House of Commons Hansard #196 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was wildlife.
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois wrote to the Minister of Public Works asking him to end the sponsorship program and to immediately turn it into a true support program for events.
Will the Minister of Public Works pledge to make this change, which would eliminate the useless go-betweens and unnecessary commissions, and which would ensure that all the funds are used for the events, thus benefiting the general public?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, that is one of the very matters I have under review at the present time.
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister downplayed the fraudulent schemes in the awarding of sponsorships. In addition to undermining the credibility of his government, these actions have a very tangible impact, and several organizers are worried that they will not get the necessary funding to hold their events this summer.
Will the Minister of Public Works end the sponsorship program and turn it into the true support program for events it was originally meant to be, this for the benefit of the public?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, over the last week or so I have heard from a number of members of parliament, including, the member for Louis-Hébert, about the value of the sponsorship program to community organizations in their various ridings.
There is concern, obviously, about the delivery mechanisms. That is what I am inquiring into.
At the same time, I want to ensure that we provide the means to support community organizations and, in the process, build Canada.
James Rajotte Canadian Alliance Edmonton Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, every day there is a new revelation concerning the ethics of the government but the Prime Minister continues to be in a state of denial.
With the RCMP launching investigations and the auditor general continuing her investigations into the government, the public has a right to know who turned a blind eye to these corrupt practices.
Since the Prime Minister admitted last night that there was theft in the government's advertising and sponsorship program, why will the government not do the right thing and call a public inquiry right now?
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations
Mr. Speaker, once again we have a total distortion of what the Prime Minister said.
We also have the auditor general with the capability and having been asked by the government to do so, to look into the issues about which the member wants to complain.
What is fair on one side is also fair on the other. Again I put to them: How often are they going to ask questions about transparency when they are refusing to provide vital information?
They do not want to talk about policy. Every time the Leader of the Opposition opens his mouth on policy he gets into trouble, whether it is Canada-U.S. or Atlantic Canada.
James Rajotte Canadian Alliance Edmonton Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, all our leadership candidates complied exactly, fully and completely with all the laws of this land and will continue to do so.
The Prime Minister yesterday asked for names of people within his own party who questioned his leadership. The Liberal member for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Aldershot yesterday put forward a motion to call senior public works officials to testify about why they broke rules in issuing government advertising contracts to a Liberal-friendly firm. Clearly members on that side are calling for a public probe. It is needed.
Why will the Prime Minister not call a public inquiry to clear his name and provide Canadian taxpayers with the accountability--
Added By Hansard.dllOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations
Mr. Speaker, excuse me but the Leader of the Opposition is in court because he does not like the laws of Canada with respect to election expenses. That is what Harper v Attorney General of Canada is all about. It is about transparence. It is about having limits on election expenses.
Every time he talks about anything of substance, whether it is Canada-U.S. or the role of Atlantic Canada in the Confederation, he puts his foot in it. That is why all he wants to do is try to smear the reputations of people. He wants to avoid substance and not only that, he wants to hide his own position on important issues with--
Yolande Thibeault Liberal Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is vital that Canada's minority language communities have access to all services of the Canadian government in the language of their choice. Only then will all Canadians be able to contribute fully to Canadian society.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development tell the House what measures she has taken recently to help ensure that the language rights of the English speaking community in Quebec are respected?
Raymonde Folco LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, contrary to what members of the Canadian Alliance and the leader of the official opposition think, Canada's linguistic duality lies at the heart of our Canadian identity and represents a key component of our dynamic society.
I would like to remind the House that the Government of Canada recently spent more than $24 million over two years in order to ensure that francophone and Acadian communities outside Quebec and the anglophone community in Quebec would have access to Human Resources Development Canada programs and services.
In addition, I am pleased to inform the House that we have just launched a website for Quebec's anglophone community featuring the various regions where anglophone--
Official LanguagesOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Cypress Hills-Grasslands.
David Anderson Canadian Alliance Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, like so many of his cabinet colleagues, the minister of agriculture does not have his priorities straight. The agricultural industry is in a crisis. Farmers are facing a U.S. farm bill, another year of drought and an agricultural plan with no details after two years of consultations.
When will the minister finally act on these issues which, due to his own mismanagement, are devastating Canadian producers?
David Anderson Canadian Alliance Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, there is a hot wind on the prairies and a cold shoulder in Ottawa. The drought continues to get worse. The minister continues to consult. The farmers continue to lose their farms. When will the minister finally act?
Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I find the hon. member's questions very contradictory. He stood and asked the government to react quickly. I stood and told him that we would be. Then he stood and said he did not want us to do that.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, a few months from now, the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe could lose its North American accreditation. This means that the expertise of veterinarians in herd health and food safety would no longer be recognized. Quebec's livestock and meat exports to the United States, now worth approximately $800 million, could also be at risk.
Given the urgency of the situation, will the minister of agriculture tell us whether or not the federal government will do its part, as the Government of Quebec has already done, and come up with the $59 million needed by the school quickly?
École de médecine vétérinaire du QuébecOral Question Period
Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario
Liberal
Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question because what he is doing is recognizing that the federal government does have an involvement here, even though members of his own party have said that they do not want the federal government being involved in education.
They have said they do not want the federal government involved in such things as the millennium scholarships, but the federal government recognizes the importance of post-secondary education. Even though post-secondary education is the primary responsibility of the provinces in the country, we are looking at it and I am confident that we will be able to support the value and the importance of veterinary colleges in Canada.
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
Mr. Speaker, each year on May 31 the World Health Organization sponsors a World No Tobacco Day.
Will the Secretary of State for Children and Youth highlight what the government is doing to promote the important message of no tobacco day?
Ethel Blondin-Andrew LiberalSecretary of State (Children and Youth)
Mr. Speaker, this year's World No Tobacco Day theme is “Tobacco Free Sports - Play it Clean”.
The Government of Canada is leading events across the country, promoting the benefits of physical activity and smoke-free lifestyles. For example, Health Canada is sponsoring “Summer Active”, a national community based physical activity campaign that focuses on the benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle. It has also launched a new interactive youth tobacco website featuring an improved self-help quitting resource called “Quit for Life”.
In addition, we are asking advice from young people on their ads and the winning ads will be launched on MuchMusic--
Rob Anders Canadian Alliance Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday all Liberals on the House of Commons national defence committee recommended the government address the serious budget shortfalls in the department. Liberal MPs recommended a major injection of funds. Last year the Deputy Prime Minister said that when the bill came in we could not just go hide in the washroom.
Will the minister be content to stay in the bathroom when the cheque arrives?
John O'Reilly LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, first, the government thanks the committee for its hard work and for the many meetings that it had. As with every report the government receives, the new Minister of National Defence will review it, will study it and will act on it. We will act on what is best for Canada and what is best for the Canadian forces.
Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, all community television stations in Canada, and the independent community stations in Quebec in particular, are experiencing serious financial problems. The coming into effect of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations in 1998 is in large part responsible for this funding shortfall, because it withdrew the existing obligation for cable companies to provide proper funding for the community channel.
Can the minister of heritage tell us if she is aware of this problem and what solutions she intends to propose to those in charge of community television?