Sheila Copps

[Publishing Industry, May 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we signed an agreement which, for the first time, protects our culture in an international trade agreement. That in itself is a step forward.

Also, instead of getting the whole pie, as they had been trying to do for two years, the Americans will get 18% of the market. We figured this was the price to pay to avoid a trade war—as we have had—and we all agree that this is a gain for us, for Canada, primarily as regards the Canadian content of magazines.

[Publishing Industry, May 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we found ourselves in a situation where there was no legislation at all. The World Trade Organization already decided two years ago that there would be no legislation.

We now have legislation protecting 82% of the Canadian market and I think that represents a good balance between a potential trade war that will harm the lumber, steel and plastics sectors and the assurance of Canadian content in culture.

[Publishing Industry, May 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has asked me to work closely, and I have already started this morning, with all Canadian publishers in order to determine, first, what is the best arrangement and, second, how we can ensure Canadian content in Canadian magazines. That is what we are working on now.

[Publishing Industry, May 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is clear that members of the Reform Party have spent the vast part of their political careers covering their butts. This is the same party that on the issue of magazines is prepared to throw to the wolves literally thousands of Canadian jobs and is prepared to tell readers of Chatelaine , readers of Maclean's —

[Publishing Industry, May 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleading with the Reform Party to start reviewing some of its policies because I believe that one of the reasons it is at 6% and falling is because it spends more time defending the Americans than it does defending Canada.

One of the reasons the government has come out fighting for Bill C-55, the first law that will protect Canadian magazines in this country, is precisely because the Prime Minister, the cabinet and the government understand that Canadian culture is worth fighting for.

[Publishing Industry, May 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, better a dog than a pig.

[Publishing Industry, May 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am afraid the hon. member is going to have to get her story straight. On the one hand she is claiming that Canadians lost and on the other hand she is claiming that it is the fault of the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

The fact is that Canada won today. The trade minister, the culture minister, the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada won. Why? Because for the first time in history the Americans have recognized that we have the right in trade to protect our culture.

[Publishing Industry, May 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for her resounding support for Canadian culture.

One of the things that Canadians have told us very firmly is that culture is more than commodities, culture is more than pork bellies and culture deserves the support of the government.

I am very proud that as a result of the Bill C-55 package the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada have committed to ongoing support for the Canadian magazine industry.

[Arts And Culture, May 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have not seen either of the films in question.

I can repeat that there were 15,000 artists, writers and filmmakers who were helped last year by the Canada Council. I can underscore for the hon. member that the Department of Canadian Heritage does not write the guidelines. The guidelines are written by the Canada Council precisely because successive governments and successive politicians have understood that it is not up to a politician to determine what is art.

[Arts And Culture, May 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, first I want to underscore that last year the Canada Council funded approximately 15,000 organizations, artists and writers to help build the culture of this country. Obviously as the minister responsible, I do not think the member would want a situation where the minister decides what films and what books are supported. I can underscore for the hon. member that the Canada Council has assured me it will be doing a revision of its conditions to ensure all applications are respectful of the public purse.