Sheila Copps

[Publishing Industry, May 31st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the agreement signed by the Americans was part of the WTO agreement signed ten years ago.

[Canadian Brides, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a copy of the cover page of Canadian Brides , the non-existent magazine.

[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I hope that the hon. member does not want me to intervene with the CRTC.

The role of the CRTC is to regulate on, in a quasi-judicial fashion, decisions regarding broadcast licence renewals. I hope that she will respect this quasi-judicial process.

[Publishing Industry, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to underscore a comment that was written not in a Canadian newspaper but in the Washington Post yesterday when it said in a line story:

—for the first time the United States was forced to accept the principle that, even in a free trade environment, foreign countries could take steps to limit access to their markets by American firms in an effort to protect the viability of local culture, in this case the Canadian magazine industry—

That precedent could eventually come into play as the United States continues its campaign to tear down barriers—

This is a first not only for Canada but it is a first in international agreements. The U.S. should respect the agreement that it signed on subsidies and countervailing duties which specifically denies national treatment in the area of subsidies. It is as simple as that.

[Publishing Industry, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the regulations that accompany the package that was distributed yesterday, the draft regulations, specify majority Canadian content.

[Publishing Industry, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have never accused the National Post of letting the facts get in the way of a good story.

Yesterday it said “There is no such magazine as Canadian Bride ”. I have here a copy of the magazine that does not exist. The magazine that does not exist asks readers who have questions about Canadian Bride to direct their questions to its office in New York City.

With the consent of the House, after question period I would be very happy to table a copy of this non-existent magazine.

[Radio-Canada, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, when one looks at what the public expects from Radio-Canada, one realizes that there is a consensus on the quality of radio programming.

There is currently no advertising on the radio. Therefore, why does the hon. member claim that the quality of the programming is dependent on advertising revenues? I do not agree with that claim.

[Publishing Industry, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, my only comment would be, thank God the Reform Party was not doing our negotiations.

[Publishing Industry, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would hope that the hon. member in examining this dossier would understand that the fight around Canadian magazines is a fight that has existed in this country for many years.

In fact, Bill C-55 was passed through the cabinet and will be amended and passed through the House as a result of the WTO decision which preceded my term as minister.

[Publishing Industry, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, again, I would ask the hon. member to think about what he supposedly read in yesterday's edition of the Washington Post .

That newspaper clearly says that, for the first time in the history of the United States, the Americans agreed that culture should be treated differently than other trade issues.

We have always said that one of the great gains made in this agreement is that, for the first time in history, culture is recognized as being different from any other type of trade.