Debates of May 16th, 2007

Canadian Heritage--Main Estimates, 2007-08

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Chair, there is a question of relevancy on that side and they are not standing up for the arts community, for sporting events, for other organizations. In two weeks' time, several organizations will be shutting down right across the country.

I want to ask the minister a very specific question. Is there a contingency plan in place to deal with sport, history, culture, everything under her portfolio that it is her responsibility to deal with? Does she have a contingency plan? I do not want to hear an answer that she will work with stakeholder groups. With what will happen in 14 days' time, does she have a contingency plan in place, yes or no?

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) (Sport)]

Mr. Chair, the hon. member might want to do his research and identify that I am the minister to answer those questions.

We give $140 million a year to sport in this country. We put over $37 million into the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse which was a tremendous success. We put $5 million into Participaction which the previous Liberal government cut. In addition to that, there is $160 million in the children's fitness tax credit which has been in effect since January 1.

With respect to heritage, we made an announcement in the budget. We will be providing funding to heritage sports so that Canadians can celebrate their heritage.

[The Chair, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

Order, please. For the information of the House, I said at the beginning that the time I took to explain the rules of the evening would not be deducted from the evening. That means we have about another four minutes to go.

The hon. member for Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Chair, let the record show not one reference was made to one organization in Newfoundland and Labrador, which is where this member comes from and where my constituents have their concerns.

I want to point out that the Corner Brook Museum & Archives, the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society Inc., the Nurse Myra Bennett Foundation, the Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Museum and the Dr. Henry N. Payne Community Museum are all shutting in 14 days unless there is specific action by the government.

The government has failed us. It has failed our culture. It has failed our history. Will it fail the people of Canada? Has there been a decision by the Department of Canadian Heritage to put in place a contingency program, and no dialogue or rhetoric about whether it will talk to the stakeholders? In fourteen days they will be shutting down. Is there a plan in place, yes or no?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, this is not a government of just talk and dialogue. We put $5 million more into student apprenticeships in museums. Every museum in Canada is able to access and apply for that program whether they come from Newfoundland and Labrador, the north, B.C. or Prince Edward Island.

This is the government that did not just talk about it. We put the money in the budget. Why did the member and his party vote against that budget?

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Chair, I want to share my time remaining with my hon. colleague from Vancouver, but I will ask this question again.

There have been hundreds of thousands of dollars ripped out of community based not for profit volunteer organizations. The people of Canada want to know this. Will hundreds of organizations involved in sport, in culture, in history and interpretation of the wonders and splendours of our country shut down on this minister's watch as a result of the government's decisions to cut the student employment program, or does the minister have in place a contingency program, yes or no?

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, the answer does not change no matter how loud the voices.

As the Minister of Canadian Heritage, we have put $5 million more to assist student apprenticeships at museums and organizations. The student summer works program will help students find really good meaningful jobs in areas of low unemployment. The students we are targeting are those students most in need.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Chair, the Secretary of State for Sport spoke highly of the athletes' assistance program, which gave a record number of medals at the Turin games, a program which was funded by the last Liberal government.

Now, the athletes who want to go to Beijing want to win medals too. They are waiting for the government to put its commitment into a $30 million fund for which they have been begging.

When will the government commit itself to high performance athletes and not continue to feed off the Liberal fund that we put into it?

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Mr. Chair, I point out that the Government of Canada gives $63 million a year to our summer athletes. We give $18 million directly to the summer athletes, and this is helping them prepare for Beijing.

I will also talk about the 34 summer national sports organizations that receive money from the Government of Canada. Let us also talk about the On the Podium program because we are working toward—

[The Chair, NDP, Bill Blaikie]

Order, please. If I could have the House's attention for minute, I might actually bring this to an end.

It being 10:35 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 81(4) all votes are deemed reported. The committee will rise and I will now leave the chair.

[The Deputy Speaker, Bill Blaikie]

The House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 10:37 p.m.)