Bev Oda

[Canadian Heritage, June 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the government is proud to support Canada Day celebrations with $7.3 million this year. It is the same amount that has been allocated for the past three years.

The government is also very proud to support celebrations like Quebec's 400th anniversary celebrations which are part of the founding of our country. I would also point out that we support celebrations such as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Aboriginal Day and Multiculturalism Day.

In fact, it is too bad manipulation of the facts demonstrates that the NDP members do not join in celebrating parties.

[Canadian Heritage, June 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, I will be meeting with Minister Pelletier. We will be working collaboratively with the government of Quebec. Both levels of government intend to review the processes and ensure there is accountable, transparent and good management of public funds.

[Canadian Heritage, June 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the government took quick action recognizing that taxpayers' dollars have to be used responsibly. We called for the Auditor General's report and received it yesterday.

We announced that we were going to be calling in the RCMP. We will be working with the Quebec government authorities to identify the ineligible expenses and work with them to recuperate those dollars illegally spent on behalf of all Canadian taxpayers.

[Questions on the Order Paper, June 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), financial information prepared by Library and Archives Canada to address the operating budget and capital requirement needed for the Portrait Gallery of Canada has been shared with Treasury Board Secretariat officials on ongoing and regular basis.

In response to (b), to date, no tender process has been announced.

In response to (c), to Library and Archives Canada’s knowledge, there are currently no bidders for the relocation of the gallery.

In response to (d), Library and Archives Canada has provided full functional requirements needed to support any discussions of potential locations for the Portrait Gallery of Canada.

In response to (e), the portrait collection is an important part of Library and Archives Canada’s holdings. The collection will continue to be cared for at the Gatineau Preservation Centre. No decisions have yet been made on where the collection will be exhibited.

In response to (f), museums and archives regularly lend and move their collections. There are well-developed and internationally accepted guidelines and practices for the movement of museum collections and objects. All movement of Library and Archives of Canada’s collections conforms to these high standards.

In response to (g), (i) in any case, a decision on the location of the Portrait Gallery of Canada would not affect the governance of the program, and the collection would remain the property and responsibility of Library and Archives Canada; (ii) the collection is owned by Library and Archives Canada, which remains responsible for its care.

In response to (h), no decision has been made on the location of the Portrait Gallery of Canada. When a decision is made, all other administrative and operational decisions will be made.

[Quebec's Former Lieutenant-Governor, June 13th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as we have indicated, we take this very seriously. We have reviewed the Auditor General's report and the recommendations she has made. We will be implementing all the recommendations regarding the management of the expenditure process. We have spoken to Minister Pelletier. We will be working closely with the Quebec government.

We will take action. This is not acceptable. This is misuse of taxpayers' dollars and we will get to the bottom of it.

[Museums Assistance Program, June 11th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as I reiterated, we are committed to museums. In fact, we will be spending $267 million this year for museums right across this country. That is a $31 million increase over previous spending by the previous government.

[Canadian Heritage, June 11th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very consistent. We do support our museums. We recognize our responsibility not only to our national museums but to museums right across the country. As I have indicated, there are 2,500 of those museums and we are providing the help where it is most needed.

In fact, under the previous government, less than 30% of the requests for summer student help were met. This is why we increased that amount by $10 million over the next two years. That is going to help the museums where they need it.

[Crime Prevention, June 11th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we as a government are working toward improving communities and making them safer. We have just heard from the Minister of Public Safety about all the initiatives we have undertaken in the 16 months that we have been in office.

We are looking at it multilaterally, with multi-aspects of all the responsibilities of all the ministers. We will continue to do so because Canadians want their communities to be safer and stronger.

[Canadian Heritage, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that this is obviously typical of the NDP. The member does not understand what is responsible management of taxpayers' dollars. He does not recognize the fact that we must have a budget and a budget process with a vote so that people will support the budget. We will make sure that there is a government governing this country that will take care of tax dollars and ensure that they are used responsibly with accountability.

[Canadian Heritage, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the apprenticeship program for museums is there. We are receiving applications for support to those museums and to the youth.

In fact, I find it very difficult to understand why the member keeps advocating, keeps blustering, about what is needed for festivals, for museums and for the arts. Yet, he is not supporting the budget and that is where the money is.