Lost her last election, in 2004, with 40% of the vote.
Supply May 23rd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see the hon. member from the NDP calling for accountability in government. I wonder where their moral indignation was when the former NDP premier of B.C. was getting his back porch built in exchange for a casino licence.
Is it not the truth that the federal government is more transparent and accountable than ever before, thanks to the Liberal government?
Supply May 23rd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the smear campaign undertaken by opposition parties clearly reflects their despair.
To be sure, the Bloc Quebecois has reasons to be concerned. Support for sovereignty is diminishing and is now around 40%. Polls in Quebec put the PQ in third place, with 25% of the vote. We can no longer figure out how many members the Bloc Quebecois has. Is it 36, 37 or 36? This is not to mention its poor showing in the last byelections.
Indeed, the Bloc Quebecois has reasons to be concerned. It is asking for a public inquiry to evaluate the level of corruption within the Liberal government. The Bloc Quebecois had already asked for an investigation. We mandated the auditor general to conduct one. Now, the RCMP will look at the issue.
This morning, the Prime Minister referred to his government's strong performance when he announced the main features of an aggressive eight point plan to raise the bar even higher in terms of ethics and integrity, for our government.
Since the publication of its first report, in 1995, Transparency International, which is the most important international organization dedicated to eliminating corruption in government and in the business world, has recognized Canada as the country where corruption is perceived as being the lowest among all G-7 members.
Is the Bloc Quebecois prepared to admit today that its exaggerated and unfounded attacks could adversely affect hundreds of workers who earn a living honorably in Quebec's advertising industry?
Sylvain Lelièvre May 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, we were shocked to learn of the death of Sylvain Lelièvre.
An accomplished artist, he had won the hearts of Quebecers. A creator, writer, lyricist, pianist and educator, he told Quebec's story as few have.
I still recall the lyrics of a song of his, Petit matin , that I used to hum:
Petit matin sans horizon Petit café, fumée d'usines Je r'garde le derrière des maisons Les femmes sont à leur cuisine
Thank you, Sylvain Lelièvre. In your own quiet but distinctive way, you have left your mark on our culture. What you have created has become a part of our history.
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues join with me in offering our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sylvain Lelièvre. Together, we mourn his passing.
Radio-Canada April 26th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, Radio-Canada's unionized newsroom employees have been locked out for five weeks. As the vice-chair of the Special Committee on Non-Medical Use of Drugs, I am concerned.
This lockout is taking place at the same time as legal sagas involving biker gangs are unfolding in Quebec. It is in the public interest that the actions of these thugs be widely reported so that the public is informed about this gangrene which has infiltrated our democratic societies. The activities of these criminals are a threat to the life and security of our young people, for it has been shown that their attempts to drug them are succeeding. The conspiracy of silence must be broken and information allowed to circulate. Radio-Canada has a crucial role to play.
Radio-Canada managers, who are paid $52 an hour to replace the unionized workers, will never take the place of seasoned journalists on top of their stories.
Faithful Radio-Canada fans are fed up with incomplete and sloppy reports by overpaid managers.
Enough is enough.
Supply April 23rd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, first let me commend the member for his commitment and dedication to an issue as important as protecting children, particularly against sexual abuse perpetrated by adults.
Children represent our future, the future of our country. It falls to us to do everything in our power to protect them and help them grow in an environment free of danger. We all know, we have all seen studies that are unanimous in their findings: abuse, particularly sexual abuse, leaves deep scars. The consequences of such abuse last a lifetime and can be seen in all kinds of insidious problems: an inability to trust, antisocial behaviour, depression and suicide. These are only a few of the consequences of sexual abuse.
Our government has not been idle on this issue. First, Bill C-15A contains a new offence, the purpose of which is to protect our children from pedophiles who use the Internet to lure them into dangerous situations.
I would like to mention that I will be sharing my time with the member for York West.
Nor can I forget to mention the public consultations organized by the Department of Justice Canada, under the theme of “Children as Victims in the Criminal Justice System”. The public document examined criminal law reforms to improve the protection of children. Four main themes were examined during these consultations, including the idea of raising the age of consent.
It was found that the issue of age of consent plays an important role in measures to improve the protection of our children. However, make no mistake about it, this issue is too complex to make any quick decisions.
The member's proposal to raise the age of consent is in response to concerns of Canadians. However, we must ensure that our response takes into consideration the complexity of the issue.
The minimum age of consent is being reviewed as part of the public consultation on child victims and the criminal justice system. As a result of this analysis, we will have a clearer picture of all the relevant issues. One of these issues has to do with the age decided upon and its impact on other ages of consent set out the criminal code. Although the criminal code sets the age of consent at 14 for most sexual activities, it sets it at 18 for certain forms of sexual exploitation. Any decision as to the age of consent must avoid the inadvertent lowering of the age of consent for sexual exploitation offences. The result would be incomplete and inadequate protection of children.
We must also ensure that the age decided upon will not have the effect of criminalizing consensual relations between young people in the same age group. Public opinion on the age of consent is varied. Some people are in favour of raising the age of consent to 16, even 18; others want to see it left at 14. Everyone, however, agrees on the need to strike a balance between, on the one hand, the desire to protect children against sexual predators and, on the other, the desire to avoid criminalizing consensual sexual activity between young people. We must also avoid encouraging abusive, non-consensual relations between young people.
Finally, we must ensure that the age of consent is consistent with the age of consent to marriage. With the exception of Ontario and Quebec, the provinces and territories will, in exceptional cases, authorize the marriage of individuals under 16. We must avoid creating a situation where an individual under the age of 16 is allowed to marry but not to consent to sexual relations.
Finally, as we have pointed out, the issue is a complex one with federal, provincial and territorial implications, which cannot be sorted out in one day. It is an important topic, one which concerns people and which requires reflection and a collaborative effort with the provinces and the territories.
There is no doubt that we must ensure that our children are safe from exploitation and sexual abuse by adults, but we must achieve this through a well thought out consultative approach, so that the result serves the interests of Canadians and, above all, our children to the greatest extent possible.
Radio-Canada April 11th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, at the present time, the entire francophone and francophile population of Quebec, New Brunswick and the rest of Canada is being deprived of essential information, both on culture and on sports, because of the lockout imposed in March by the management of Radio-Canada.
Yesterday, francophone news employees met with us and the corporation management broke off negotiations.
Since when are citizens punished for going to speak with their elected representatives?
Does the minister find this behaviour by Radio-Canada's management acceptable?
Infrastructure Program April 11th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House of the considerable contribution being made by the federal government in the riding of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, through the Canada—Quebec Infrastructure Works Program.
More than $740,000 will be invested in infrastructure in this riding by the Government of Canada. Among the projects that have been approved is the replacement of the water treatment facilities and improvements to security in different areas.
This program was set up under an agreement between the federal government and the Quebec government. Approximately one third of the costs are covered by the federal government, the rest being provided by the provincial and municipal levels. Some projects also require investment by the private sector.
This is good news. The quality of life of the people of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles will be improved through these projects.
I am proud of this government. It is sensitive to the needs of all of the regions of Quebec.
Société Radio-Canada April 10th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, as a former journalist with the Société Radio-Canada in Montreal, I would like to bring to the attention of the House the labour conflict causing the disruption of television and radio broadcasts throughout the regions of Quebec and in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Société Radio-Canada locked its employees out on March 23 and since then, all public affairs programs, such as
Zone Libre, Le point , La facture , and Enjeux , have been suspended; this, right in the middle of the crisis in the Middle East.
Three weeks after being locked out, employees are still in the street. They came to meet with us today.
How can this situation be justified? The crown corporation must explain to Liberal members from Quebec and New Brunswick why it has maintained the lockout, despite the fact that negotiations have resumed.
It is important that both the English and French networks of the CBC are treated fairly. The current negotiations represent a real opportunity to do this.
Association féminine d'éducation et d'action sociale March 21st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, for several years now, women from across Canada have been getting together to unite their strength and their voices, whether for solidarity purposes, or to actively promote their ideals.
Twenty thousand Quebec women are members of the Association féminine d'éducation et d'action sociale, a non-profit organization whose goal is to improve women's living and working conditions, and to defend their rights. The AFEAS has been working to that end in 430 Quebec towns for close to 35 years.
I am asking the House to join me in welcoming the representatives of the Association féminine d'éducation et d'action sociale who are here today. These women are leaders in their communities. They are here to take part in a colloquium organized by Communications Canada.
I welcome them to Ottawa, and I wish them every success in their endeavours.
Gala des Masques February 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honour for me to rise today to congratulate the winners and the nominees at the Gala des Masques, which was held last Sunday and which I attended with the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Twenty-four masks were presented to artists and to productions. Among the actors who received awards were Benoît Brière, Rosemary Dunsmore, Annie Berthiaume and Guy Jodoin. Denis Marleau received a mask for his staging of Le Petit Köchel .
All members of the theatre community do great work. Thanks to them, we experience some unforgettable moments. I urge my colleagues to join with me in expressing our gratitude.