Bev Oda

[Chinese Canadians, October 24th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, after over 17 years of the Chinese community demanding recognition, as they were ignored, with no apology and no redress, the Prime Minister and Canada's new government has acted. In June the Prime Minister apologized in the House.

This past weekend I had the honour to present the first payments to three living head tax payers. They asked me to thank the Prime Minister and to say that he was a great man. The spousal payments will be coming shortly.

The government, Canada's new government, does the right thing and fulfills its promises.

[Canadian Heritage, October 23rd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, we have committed to Canadian culture. In fact, we did it in our first budget with $50 million for the Canada Council. That is a real action. As far as public diplomacy, last year we committed through the Canada Council over $800,000 for touring and that was before the new $50 million.

[Cultural Diversity, October 23rd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this government does what is good for Canada and for Canadian artists and creators. We have committed to the declaration of cultural diversity. We will promote it among our fellow countries. We will continue to do this because we believe this is the right thing to do for Canada.

[Cultural Diversity, October 23rd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the department and this government are working very hard. When the Prime Minister was at the Francophonie summit in Bucharest he recommitted Canada's commitment to promoting the declaration.

As we do our international affairs, we are encouraging every country to ratify within its own country. We are very confident of success.

[Government Programs, October 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear because the other day this same member asked a question with inaccurate information. Again, dance troupes and performing troupes will continue to be able to tour.

Yesterday, this member talked to me about museums that were going to have their funding affected. I asked him to give me the name of the museum affected. He has yet to do that. We are going to ensure that our cultural communities do enjoy our support.

[Status of Women, October 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I stand up for women, but every member of this caucus and government stands up for women. I will not resign.

[Status of Women, October 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, nobody has to talk to me about minority rights. What we are trying to do as a government is to offer opportunities.

Unlike the previous Liberal government, this government is taking action. In nine short months, we are acting on matrimonial property rights for aboriginal women. We have introduced the universal child care benefit. We are going to put forward tougher justice legislation to protect our women. We will no longer treat the women who are victims of human trafficking as criminals.

This is action and this is what we will deliver to Canadian women.

[Status of Women, October 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I shared with you an experience this morning of honouring some very significant women and in fact these women are with us today.

I would suggest that the member opposite who had the opportunities, at one time being recognized as the most powerful businesswoman in Canada, did very little about it. Consequently, when we look at her board at Magna, there is no female representation on that board.

[Status of Women, October 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this government is made up of caucus members who understand that not all women have equal opportunity and therefore we will address that issue.

This government did not cut, as the previous Liberal government did, the women's program budget three times in the last decade, and this government does not have a caucus that has boys' weekends to make up its policies.

[Government Programs, October 17th, 2006]

No, Mr. Speaker.