Mr. Speaker, yesterday I agreed to raise the question in cabinet and to make a recommendation. I am now looking at the formulation of this recommendation and as soon as I have something to announce on the subject, I will do so right away.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1993, with 46% of the vote.
Canadian Radio-Television & Telecommunications Commission June 10th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I agreed to raise the question in cabinet and to make a recommendation. I am now looking at the formulation of this recommendation and as soon as I have something to announce on the subject, I will do so right away.
Yukon First Nations Land Claimssettlement Act June 9th, 1994
moved that Bill C-33, an act to approve, give effect to and declare valid land claims agreements entered into between Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, the Government of the Yukon Territory and certain First Nations in the Yukon Territory, to provide for approving, giving effect to and declaring valid other land claims agreements entered into after this act comes into force, and to make consequential amendments to other acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Crtc June 9th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that I received a request from the Fédération des francophones et acadiens, asking me to intervene so as to amend or reverse the position taken by the CRTC regarding this network. I intend to make recommendations to the Governor in Council so that he can make a decision within the timeframe prescribed by the act.
Writing Thru Race Conference June 8th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I conclude that as I am not funding from departmental resources I am doing the right thing.
As I tried to explain, the Canada Council is an arm's length institution and the meaning of arm's length is precisely that the minister does not issue instructions concerning specific decisions taken by the board of directors.
Writing Thru Race Conference June 8th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage does not issue directives to the Canada Council, an arm's length institution.
However, the writer's union did apply for financial support from programs from the ministry of heritage, which is under my jurisdiction, and I am not going to proceed with this request.
The reason why I am not doing it is that, as I said in this House, I am profoundly against discrimination as a principle.
Canadian Radio-Television And Telecommunications Commission June 8th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, when I am told that I will be contacted, I have the decency to wait to be contacted. I do not behave like members opposite who pose as messengers for the francophone communities, in the hope of scoring political points. I am waiting to hear officially from them, and then I will make the appropriate decisions.
Canadian Radio-Television And Telecommunications Commission June 8th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, all these people have to do is give me some kind of a notice and I will be able to start the proceedings. I am waiting for them to do that. They stated that they intended to take such action; that is what I heard yesterday; when they approach the Minister of Canadian Heritage, he will take the appropriate action.
Canadian Radio-Television And Telecommunications Commission June 8th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I trust that I expressed myself clearly in French. I said that as soon as the minister is approached for his views on changing the CRTC's decision, the minister becomes a judge and it is therefore inappropriate for the minister who may have to act as a judge to give his views before hearing all sides of the case. That is where the matter stands now, and I hope I made myself sufficiently clear in my answers to previous questions and to the question that was just put.
Canadian Radio-Television And Telecommunications Commission June 8th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the answer is substantially what I said in reply to a question from the hon. member for Rimouski-Témiscouata.
I read the papers, of course, including the article that attracted the attention of the hon. member. I said that I was waiting for the Quebec Minister of Culture and Communications to get in touch with me. Yesterday, I mentioned that I had asked for an analysis of the CRTC's decisions. Once I have heard from the minister and the analysis is ready, I will be able to make some decisions.
Canadian Radio-Television And Telecommunications Commission June 8th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I explained that I could not judge and be judged. If and when I become the judge, I will have an opinion, but meanwhile I will remain silent.