House of Commons Hansard #115 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was federal.
Caroline St-Hilaire Bloc Longueuil, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is all very fine for the secretary of state to speak to us of agreements he has signed making knowledge of French a criterion. It is all very well for him to boast of his work as a minister but will he admit that these agreements will not be valid unless an obligation is also in place for trainers and coaches to be bilingual?
Speaking French must not be just any old criterion but an obligation.
Denis Coderre LiberalSecretary of State (Amateur Sport)
Mr. Speaker, may I take this opportunity, since we are finishing today, to extend the best wishes of the Government of Canada to the Quebec and Canadian athletes who are going to represent us so well at the next Olympics.
I will be at the opening ceremonies. I have a memorandum of agreement and everything will be in both official languages.
Darrel Stinson Reform Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Speaker, now that the scope of the mismanagement in HRDC has come to light and created the dismantling of the department in the government's attempt to cover its tracks, my question is, without HRDC how does the Liberal government plan on financing its next election campaign?
Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
That question is beyond the competence of the government and is out of order.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, René Fugère lobbied for a TJF grant for a hotel in Shawinigan. Fugère is an unregistered lobbyist being investigated by the RCMP. Ten days after the first $100,000 was received, the hotel cut a cheque for $11,500 to Mr. Fugère.
My question is for the Prime Minister. Was October 25, 1993 the day that kickbacks became acceptable?
Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
In my view, that question is also out of order but the hon. government House leader may reply.
Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period
Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario
Liberal
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, both questions just asked beg the following answer. In a recent Hill Times article the member for Prince George—Peace River said that one of the reasons he supported changing the name of his party to the Canadian Alliance was that “it seemed to hold out the promise for more corporate contributions”.
Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
We can see the difficulty the House can get into when questions are out of order.
Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral Bloc Laval Centre, QC
Mr. Speaker, since May 26, disabled youth in Quebec taking part in the federal opportunities fund for persons with disabilities have been without jobs.
As a result of the new accountability rules imposed unilaterally by Human Resources Development Canada, all participants in the fund's various programs—more than 1,200 people—will lose their jobs by June 30.
Given the uncertainty in which these 1,200 people find themselves, what measures does the minister have planned to help keep them in the labour market, apart from EI?
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the question gives me the opportunity to share with the House the importance of the opportunities fund, a fund that makes sure that Canadians with disabilities have the chance to get employment opportunities.
If I understand the question properly, the hon. member has raised the issue about a certain organization in the province of Quebec before. We continue to work with that organization in support of disabled Canadians.
Surely, however, she wants to ensure that accountability structures are appropriate.
Larry McCormick Liberal Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox And Addington, ON
Mr. Speaker, today the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on the reference regarding the Firearms Act.
Can the Minister of Justice tell the House what this decision means to Canadians?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that today the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously confirmed the constitutional validity of the Firearms Act.
Anne McLellan Liberal Edmonton West, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am particularly pleased because this is a victory for all Canadians and it is a victory for public safety.
We on this side of the House know that the firearms registry and licensing system enjoys the support of the vast majority of Canadians.
At this point, I would ask all Canadians who are firearms owners and users to comply, and in particular, I would ask our friends in the official opposition—
Gurmant Grewal Reform Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, on November 3, 1999 the HRDC minister said that the TJF projects had been managed properly, but they were not. She then said that the TJF projects went through the acceptable review process, but they did not. She then said that the process had been fully addressed, but it had not.
Why was the minister so economical with the truth but not with taxpayers' dollars?
Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
I think the hon. member for Surrey Central will recognize that he will not want to get into discussions about economy with the truth. He might want to finish putting his question very directly. We will not carry on in that vein.
Gurmant Grewal Reform Surrey Central, BC
Mr. Speaker, why was the minister not straightforward with the taxpayers? Why was she trying to misguide the House at that time?
Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
I see there are a lot of cases of foot in mouth disease this afternoon. The question is out of order as framed. However, there was a question there, and if the Minister of Human Resources Development wishes to reply she may do so.
Jane Stewart LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, I have always tried to be straightforward in my responses.
Today I would continue to reiterate the fact that the transitional jobs fund and the Canada jobs fund have created opportunities for Canadians that would not have otherwise been there.
I would reiterate the fact that the investments that we make through our youth programs have made a difference in the lives of youth, particularly youth at risk.
I would reiterate the fact that we are focused and, together with our partners, we are making a difference to ensure that Canadians with disabilities have a chance to participate in what we know to be one of the greatest economies in recent years and country with the lowest unemployment levels in—
Human Resources DevelopmentOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
The hon. member for Nanaimo—Alberni.
Bill Gilmour Reform Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, the audit identifying the HRD fiasco found that 15% of the projects did not have an application form, a full quarter did not have a description of what the project entailed, and eight out of ten had no financial monitoring.
Was it the actual findings within the audit or was it the minister's bungling of the audit and the fallout later on that has caused her to be shuffled within the cabinet or perhaps outside the cabinet?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I know that the opposition is not looking at what is needed there because it knows it will never have to deal with this problem.