Stephen Owen

[Sponsorship Program, March 24th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we can be assured that the aquatic games will be run in the most forthright and transparent way. The Government of Canada, since difficulties occurred in the fall, has demanded that the board be fully reconstituted, that there be a full review of payments to Mr. Desrochers and his companies and that there is written confirmation that all financial documents are in place. There is the adoption of a conflict of interest code. We have withheld any further federal funds until the situation is cleared up to our satisfaction.

All that needs to be done is being done to ensure the successful completion of these games in July

[Sponsorship Program, March 24th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we have fulfilled all our obligations toward Montreal 2005.

We are very proud of the world aquatic championships, which will take place in Montreal in July. These will be a great success. We are fully in step with the mayor of Montreal. Mayor Tremblay has shown great leadership in assuring that these games will go on.

The Government of Canada is the major public contributor to those games. These games will be a great success for Montreal, for Quebec and for all Canada.

[Fisheries and Oceans, February 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, of course the circumstances on the west coast fishery and the east coast fishery are very different. They require different supports at different times for different species under stress.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans targets specialized care and support that is appropriate for each side. I am sure that the minister will want to consider the hon. member's question seriously when he returns, but I can assure members that the circumstances on the west coast and on the east coast are not comparable in many areas.

[Sport Canada, February 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the member for Scarborough Centre as someone who exemplifies those two fine Greek qualities.

I was very pleased earlier this week with my colleague, the minister responsible for public health, who made an announcement in Toronto on Tuesday, in partnership with the Canadian Tire Foundation, to provide for up to 20,000 children to take part in community sports events over the next year. These are children who, through poverty, disability or other barriers, were unable to take part. This will rise to 50,000 children over the next three years.

[Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, February 10th, 2005]

moved that Bill C-39, an act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and to enact an act respecting the provision of funding for diagnostic and medical equipment, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

[World Aquatic Championships, February 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, let me repeat in English. I am sorry if the hon. member did not understand my French. The Government of Canada has met all of its obligations to the organizing committee to ensure that there will be a successful event in Montreal. The fact is that the organizing committee has not met its private support targets.

We are working with the Mayor of Montreal and with FINA to ensure that there is every possibility that those targets can be met and there will be a successful event in Montreal next July.

[World Aquatic Championships, February 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we have fulfilled all our obligations towards Montreal 2005 and the organizing committee.

The federal government is the single largest contributor to the world aquatic games which we hope will be held in Montreal in July. We are supporting Mayor Tremblay in all his efforts to get the private sector to come up with its support that was budgeted for the event.

We remain open, as does FINA, with the doors open to Montreal, to make sure that we get the private sector's support so that this important event can take place in Montreal.

[Question No. 41, January 31st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the anwer is as follows:

a) There are 146 active projects under the softwood industry community economic adjustment initiative, SICEAI, in B.C. against which federal funding is currently committed.

b) There are an additional five projects under the SICEAI in B.C. for which federal funding has either been “withdrawn or decommitted”. The five projects that are not proceeding, and the reasons, are: first, Village of Port Clements, tourist centre, unable to secure other sources of funding required to complete project; second, Diversified Concrete Products Ltd., concrete form manufacturing, unable to address all environmental issues required for completion of a satisfactory environmental screening reports under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, CEAA; third, City of Nanaimo, conference centre, unable to complete the project by the March 31, 2005, deadline for termination of SICEAI program; fourth, Merritt and District Chamber of Commerce, western facade branding, unable to complete the project by the March 31, 2005, deadline for termination of SICEAI program; and fifth, Sliammon First Nation, cultural interpretive centre, the band's priorities for projects have changed and the band no longer wishes to pursue this investment.

c) SICEAI funds that have been “decommitted or withdrawn” have been reallocated to the following projects: first, Nexbuild Manufacturing, an aboriginal-led project establishing a pre-fab home construction operation; second, Midway Development Authority, development of an aviation business park in Midway; third, Central B.C. Railway & Forest Industry Museum Society, establishment of a mini-passenger rail tourist attraction in Prince George; and fourth, Prince Rupert Port Authority, design and engineering work for expansion of the Fairview container port facility in Prince Rupert.

Note: Western Economic Diversification Canada delivers the SICEAI program on behalf of Industry Canada.

[Department of Social Development Act, November 23rd, 2004]

moved that Bill C-22, an act to establish the Department of Social Development and to amend and repeal certain related Acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

[Human Resources and Skills Development Act, November 22nd, 2004]

moved that Bill C-23, an act to establish the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development and to amend and repeal certain related Acts be read the second time and referred to a committee.