Bonnie Brown

[Children, May 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad my colleague recognizes the good news nature of the national children's agenda launch—

[Summer Career Placement Program, May 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I think the questioner must be the only person who is against the mobility of students learning about their country and other places.

The exchange program is only part of the summer career placement program. I am glad to tell the House that the amount allocated across the country for that program remains the same as last year, $90 million.

If there is a change in the allocation for a particular riding, it is because the basis of the formula may have changed due, for example, to the number of local students and the local youth unemployment rate.

[Summer Career Placement Program, May 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, there is no diversion of funds for this program.

When two ridings exchange students in the summer, a portion of the receiving riding's summer career placement funds are allocated to the students who arrive and take jobs in that riding. At the same, the students who left a riding, went to another one and got jobs, assume the funds in that riding. There is an exchange of money that is fair.

[Federal Programs, May 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I disagree with the premise of the hon. member's question. It is entirely the opposite.

The federal government will not be interfering in Quebec's choices about what it does in the way of family and children's programming. The purpose of the national children's agenda is to allow that flexibility so that Quebec can design its own programs and deliver them to its own people.

[Federal Programs, May 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised at my counterpart asking this question. Is she suggesting that she is against the development of new programming for children in Canada? That is very surprising to me.

The ongoing discussions in the subcommittee to which she refers are again part of the fleshing out of a menu of programs that will be chosen by various provinces according to their own needs, just the way members of the Bloc Quebecois want to see in most programming Quebec participates in.

[Federal Programs, May 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, no new program will be imposed on any province. That is the strength of the social union and the national children's agenda as part of that social union.

The whole thing about this new arrangement is the flexibility with which each province will design what it is they want to do for their own children. Quebec has participated in the past in these kinds of things.

For example, the national children's benefit, which was the first step, gave Quebec the money to invest in its family policy including its $5 a day, day care policy.

[Federal Programs, May 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for all Canadian children. The minister and his provincial counterparts are announcing the first two papers on the national children's agenda. One is a vision document and one is a discussion paper.

This shows the beginning of the social union where the provinces and the federal government have come together. The discussion paper will now begin to engage all Canadians in fleshing out the plan and developing which programs will happen in which provinces.

[United Way, May 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to pay tribute to the United Way. While most Canadians know about the United Way's annual fundraising campaign in October, few are aware of all the preparation necessary to its success. Right now local branches are putting in place the human infrastructure of volunteers who will do the required work. Community leaders from business, labour and government are coming together as a team to steer the campaign through a series of special events designed to raise public awareness.

In my riding of Oakville all of this activity begins with a community leaders' breakfast next Friday. From that starting point the helping network will spread through the town to involve as many volunteers as possible. The result will be financial support to the social and health agencies that are the base of any resilient community.

Today I want to salute the hardworking staff and the generous volunteers of the United Way family and to wish them well as they march together to a successful campaign '99.

[National Forest Week, May 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, May 2 to May 8 is National Forest Week, providing a unique opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of Canada's forests to our environment, our economy, our culture and our history.

Our forests are a natural resource whose maintenance and management concern all Canadians.

The forest industry supports 337 communities and provides jobs for over 877,000 Canadians, including some residents in my riding of Oakville. As well, this industry is the net largest contributor to our balance of trade, representing over $31.6 billion in 1998.

This year, 1999, also commemorates the centennial of the Canadian Forest Service. Canadians can be proud of the vision of the Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier who 100 years ago created what has become Canada's principal forest research organization.

[Youth Summer Employment, May 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that the member opposite is as anxious and as happy as we are to have the summer career placement program. We are aware of the situation that the member raises. Our regional offices are being given tentative budget allocations to proceed with the programs. Final allocations will be given shortly.