Sheila Copps

[Government Contracts, November 26th, 2002]

I would be surprised at that, Mr. Speaker. If the hon. member wants to discuss this, I am prepared to call a round table discussion with all the publishing houses in order to find out whether or not they believe in the policy we have established.

It is a well-known fact that we are currently making cultural investments in excess of $1 billion in Quebec. I know that this is about 25% more than what the Government of Quebec is doing. I believe that artists, writers and publishing houses support Canada's policy on cultural investment in Quebec, including your—

[Government Contracts, November 26th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I really wondered when I heard the representative of the Government of Quebec say that Canadian cuisine was not part of our culture.

If we want to ensure the survival of publishing companies, much of whose money goes into direct employment in the Province of Quebec, it is obvious that the companies must also be able to make these very interesting books available to anyone interested in the culinary arts.

[Television Transmission Services, November 21st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Laval East for her question. The situation she refers to is a very serious one.

At the present time, up to 1 million Canadian homes are receiving illegal signals. This represents a $400 million loss to the broadcasting systems, which represents thousands of jobs.

I congratulate the broadcasters of Quebec for today launching an information program aimed at ensuring the survival of Canada's cultural life.

[Question No. 24, November 20th, 2002]

I am informed by the NCC as follows:

(a) No National Capital Commission, NCC, properties within the current legal boundary of Gatineau Park have been declared surplus and as such, none are presently for sale.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) Not applicable.

(d) Since September 1992, the NCC has disposed of 150.7 ha, 372.37 ac, which includes the Vorlage Ski Club having an area of 112.85 ha, 278.85 ac. Currently, two properties on the periphery of the park are being offered for sale: a 0.05 ha, 0.12 ac, parcel along Alexandre-Taché Blvd and a 2.39 ha, 5.93 ac, parcel along Chemin de la Montagne, both in Gatineau (Hull).

(e) No.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) Information on the total number of acres belonging to individuals within the park on September 1992 is not available since the NCC does not maintain a registry of properties belonging to individuals.

(h) Information on the total number of acres belonging to individuals within the park on September 2002 is not available since the NCC does not maintain a registry of properties belonging to individuals.

(i) Information on the number of individuals that own land within the current legal boundary of the park, their names and the size of their property or properties in individual ownership is not available since the NCC does not maintain a registry of this type of information.

[Multiculturalism, November 20th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the member for Cambridge for his particular interest in this issue.

I would like to underscore that the International Network on Cultural Policy founded by Canada will be hosting a very important meeting next year in Croatia. I know the member, with his unique interest in the Croatian community in Canada, will also make sure that the message on cultural diversity includes Canadian diversity and not simply international diversity.

[Book Publishing Industry, November 20th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I think the proof of the success of the Canadian book publishing policy is that this year for the first time we have actually had three Canadians nominated for the prestigious Booker Prize.

If we look at the incredible authors who are here in the audience today, they are from diverse backgrounds and diverse parts of the country. It is probably the healthiest industry of its kind in a country of similar size. I think we should applaud book publishers and especially the authors.

[Points of Order, November 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. When the hon. member of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage got up to ask a question, I neglected to congratulate him for his unanimous election to the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. He has done such a great job he had the support of all his colleagues. It is nice to see that we have a committee that works by consensus.

[National Parks, November 8th, 2002]

I think one of the issues, Mr. Speaker, relates back to the question that was asked about tuberculosis. One of the mandates of Parks Canada, which actually was conferred by this Parliament, is that above and beyond any other concern the question of ecological integrity is paramount. Obviously ecological integrity means putting the environment first.

Of course Parks Canada is very happy to meet with groups, individuals and others who feel that their issues do not coincide with those of the environment, but I think Canadians expect Parks Canada to put the environment first.

[National Parks, November 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we passed a law in the House a couple of years ago on the question of the ecological integrity of parks. It would be absolutely ludicrous for a minister of the crown who has no experience in veterinary or medicine to be making decisions on tuberculosis. In fact, those decisions are made by scientists.

I would certainly be very happy to sit down with anyone who feels aggrieved by this process, but the suggestion that I should be making decisions on TB is not very logical.

[Government Contracts, November 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we are the ones who released the e-mail.