Bev Oda

[Festivals and Special Events, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the response to the question is very simple. If there is a sincere support for festivals in Quebec, in Canada, if the member would like to see more support for festivals, I suggest she support the budget. There is going to be no increased funding for festivals unless the budget passes.

[Festivals and Special Events, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated before, the festivals referred to, the large festivals in Montreal are receiving money and have been receiving money. This year they will receive the same amount of money.

In fact, the Just for Laughs Festival will be receiving $1.2 million from the federal government and there will be $825,000 for the Montreal jazz festival.

This program will be there to support all festivals in every province and territory across Canada.

[Festivals and Special Events, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, we look at the cultural and artistic community in Quebec and take pride in its successes and its unique artistry.

That is why we have continued our support. That is why we have given $50 million to Canada Council and part of that will go to Quebec.

The other thing is that we sustain the television fund by $100 million over two years. We have increased the funding for société Radio-Canada for two years by $60 million.

We recognize the unique culture of Quebec.

[Festivals and Special Events, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, many of the festivals have been going on for many years. I know they do bring benefit to Montreal and to Quebec. In fact, that is why, in concert with my associate, the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, we support all the festivals and activities in Quebec to a total of $13 million this summer.

[Festivals and Special Events, June 4th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised that a member of the Liberal caucus would be asking a question about the situation of supporting festivals. In fact, it is because of the Liberal government that festivals are in the situation that they are in today.

In fact, if the official opposition really cares about funding and supporting festivals, it should have supported the budget.

[Canadian Heritage, June 4th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the Historica program is a national program which carries out many activities.

In fact, one of the best things about Historica and SEVEC, and why we support them, is student exchanges. They bring francophone students from Quebec to other communities as well as anglophone students into Quebec to share time with families and to work in those communities.

It is in this way that we are going to make sure that future generations know what a great unified country we are.

[Canadian Heritage, June 4th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we want to ensure that future generations and the current young generation of Canadians appreciate their history and heritage. We will continue to work to make sure that we are all proud of this great country.

[Festivals and Special Events, June 4th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as we know, the government of Quebec does support its cultural activities. I encourage it to look at the needs of the current festivals because some of those festivals do not have access to current programs. That is why we introduced a new program.

In fact, some of those very same festivals have said that it is irresponsible to count on money when the program has not been set up. They are willing to be part of the consultation process. We are expediting that and the program will be ready by the end of this summer.

[Festivals and Special Events, June 4th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, this is a new program and currently those festivals are receiving money from Canadian Heritage. In fact, the large festivals in Montreal will receive anywhere from $300,000 to $1.2 million from this federal government this summer.

[Festivals and Special Events, May 31st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, this government and this party do not succumb to pressure. What we do is govern in the best interests of Canadians. We have full responsibility to ensure that we support festivals, we support communities, but we use the support and the taxpayers' dollars so that the moneys go where they are intended to go, not to party coffers but to really serve communities. We do it accountably and we do it with transparency.