Yvan Loubier

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 5th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, what the minister does not understand is that Saint-Hyacinthe has already lost its full accreditation. The final deadline for the American Veterinary Medical Association to decide on whether or not this loss will be permanent, is four days from now.

Are the Liberal members from Quebec asleep at the switch? Are they not about to be shown up for the amateurs they are once again, as was the case when the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean was shut down? Is that what is going to happen in Saint-Hyacinthe?

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 5th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, while the government is crumbling under the weight of scandals involving tens of millions of dollars for the sponsorship program, and billions of dollars lost through tax loopholes and the firearms registry program, the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe is still waiting for its $59 million to ensure its survival.

Will the Prime Minister take his responsibilities and immediately provide the money to save the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, the only French school of veterinary medicine in North America?

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we have been raising this issue here in the House since April. If they are really so efficient, how is it that four days before the deadline they have not solved the problem?

The Liberal ministers and members from Quebec constantly drone on about how they are defending the interests of Quebec. If that is the case, then let them defend the interests of Quebec in the case of the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, and ensure that the $59 million are found for the school to keep its full accreditation next week. We are simply asking the government to save the only school of veterinary medicine that is at risk in Canada right now. The three others are not.

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I saw Liberal ministers and members from Quebec applaud the answer given by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food when I asked a question about the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe. They were clapping for a non-answer.

Does the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food seriously think that when the dean of the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe meets with the American Association of Veterinary Medicine on December 9 he will tell them “Oh, by the way, I do not have a cent to invest, but I can guarantee that the minister is considering my file”? Does the minister think that is how we are going to save the school's accreditation?

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the situation is as follows. The École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe is the only school that is in danger right now, the only one to have lost its accreditation. For 25 years, the federal government has not put a cent into the school's infrastructure, yet it has provided significant support to the University of Guelph, the University of Saskatoon and the University of Prince Edward Island.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Is it not now time to put an end to the unfair treatment of the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe? This would be a good opportunity to demonstrate that he thinks it is.

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the minister says we should not worry, to have faith, to be patient. My question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Does he believe that on December 9, the dean of the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe will be able to say to the American association, “Do not worry. There is nothing on the table, but do not worry”? I think it is irresponsible to expect that.

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I would humbly ask the Prime Minister to acknowledge that there is just one veterinary school having problems at this time, and that is the one in Saint-Hyacinthe, that there is reason to be concerned, because the dean has to produce a report next week, and that $59 million are urgently needed if the school is going to keep its accreditation.

Is this the legacy the Prime Minister wants to leave behind: the closure of the Collège militaire de Saint-Jean, the only francophone military college in North America, and the closure of the École de médecine véterinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, the only francophone school of veterinary medicine in North America?

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 3rd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, on December 9, just a few days from now, the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe will have to report to the American Veterinary Association on the major investments required for its full accreditation to be restored.

Does the Prime Minister grasp the urgency of the situation and does he not realize that the Government of Quebec has already put $41 million into the school and that it is now time he and his government did their share? It is urgent, a matter of days.

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we want to believe him, but currently, a Canadian veterinary college is in danger, and it happens to be the one in Saint-Hyacinthe. Perhaps the minister is more interested in Guelph's fate since he graduated from Guelph University.

I would ask the Prime Minister, who perhaps has an interest in all of Canada, to personally intervene to save the veterinary college in Saint-Hyacinthe and ensure that it keeps its accreditation. To do this, the federal government must invest $59 million. Will the Prime Minister take action?

[École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, December 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, in answer to all the questions that we asked him regarding the fact that the veterinary college at Guelph University received millions of dollars from the Innovation Fund to modernize its infrastructure, the minister stated that the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe could have made a similar request. However, in 2001, officials rejected such a request from the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe.

Why is the minister suggesting that we request money from this fund when he knows full well that such a request will be refused? Is he trying to cloud the issue; does he hope to sabotage the veterinary college in Saint-Hyacinthe?