Evidence of meeting #17 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendments.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Can we come back? If she has any time left, can I just—
Liberal
Liberal
Bloc
Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Uppal, Ms. Mendes asked you why it was preferable to have a private member's bill instead of relying on an administrative measure that has already been announced and which is likely already a part of the Commission's responsibilities. You answered that you are not quite sure and you added that you have been asked to introduce it.
Would you tell us who asked you to introduce this bill? Was it the government or the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada?
Conservative
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB
Good question. It wasn't the NCC or the government itself.
When I was drawn with a pretty decent number for my private member's bill, when it came close to the time that I knew it would be drawn, I put out some feelers with people who have been here for a long time and asked if they had any suggestions or ideas for a private member's bill, because I had just recently been elected. A few proposals have come forward, different things, some justice, some other types of issues, financial issues and stuff.
This came forward, and it came forward through—actually she's right there—Laura Grosman. She had been working on this before. I think she had worked actually with Anita Neville on her bill. When I saw it, the idea of it, I thought it was a great idea.
It didn't come through any government initiative, no.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Thank you.
Of course we all feel this is a very important initiative and we would like to see this expedited as quickly as possible.
Mr. Chairman, I'd like to know if the government has any intent of putting any money towards this project as well or if it would be completely a private initiative after the council was established.
Liberal
Conservative
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB
Sure.
I've been in some of the media saying this: when I was putting this together, when we were looking at it, we were in the midst of kind of a world economic crisis. In talking to people, the government at that time—or even at any time, I feel—about putting a lot of money towards a monument, whether it's a Holocaust monument or some other monument, I personally felt that it would be better if that money came from willing Canadians, Canadians who wanted to buy into this one, wanted to support this, and wanted to donate to this. Speaking to stakeholders, they said they didn't see a problem in raising the funds. My intention for the bill is that the funds for the monument itself would come from Canadians who are willing to support this initiative.
To answer your question, no, I would prefer if the government supplied the land but the funds for the monument and its upkeep came from Canadians.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
And I applaud the initiative.
But if the government were truly committed to this initiative and wanted it truly expedited, wouldn't they provide at least a portion of the funding so that it could be expedited, so that they could see the realization of this great monument as well?
Conservative
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB
I believe that the government is truly committed to this. I think the best thing we could do is to move it through the House and get it passed. I think that's what we need to do.
As for the funding, I have been assured by a number of groups—and I'm sure you would agree—that Canadians would be more than willing to donate to such a project.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Mr. Uppal, you have said in your presentation that this bill was “handed to you”. Who handed it to you?
Conservative
Tim Uppal Conservative Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB
I don't know if it was handed to me. We did work on it. The idea was definitely brought forward by—I don't know what association you're with, Laura—the Canadian Holocaust Memorial Project.
Liberal
Conservative
