Bev Oda

[Supply, November 16th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, I will ask the minister if there is a problem with the program Tomorrow Starts Today. This side of the House has never indicated it does not support the program. In fact, what we want is to ensure that the maximum dollars are going to those it was intended to support.

Why is the minister unable to provide the information I just asked for, which was a dollar figure that goes directly to creators and artists? Also, why is the minister being so alarmist and creating an unfounded sense of panic among the arts and cultural community? Why is she saying, as is reported, that the program is under serious attack, that it might not be renewed, that it is facing its sunset? In fact, she said that there is a very real chance it will not be renewed.

Is the minister unable to convince the government and her colleagues to support this program's continuation? If anyone is placing this program under serious attack it seems to be the minister herself and her own caucus. Again I ask the question: how many dollars went directly to creators and artists?

[Supply, November 16th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, if I understand the rules as you explained them, the amount of time to respond to a question should be relative in terms of the amount of time taken to ask the question.

[Supply, November 16th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, thank you for giving us this opportunity. I look forward to the next few hours. I think this is a very important discussion and debate to be having. It is important to this side of the House that we make sure we have a strong and vibrant arts and cultural community.

I would like to begin questioning today on an important arts and cultural program, Tomorrow Starts Today.

My staff has contacted the minister's office seven times over the past six weeks and has been unable to obtain any information. The Library of Parliament, a non-partisan agency that helps all members, has been unable to obtain any information. Just this morning, the minister's office told my staff that I would not understand the numbers and that the numbers would be open to misinterpretation unless explained by the minister to me.

Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain detailed financial data on this program until only a couple of hours ago. This funding represents $500 million of government money. These numbers should be readily available to all members and to all Canadians.

The members on this side of the House would like to be assured that this money is getting out to the creators and artists who need it.

On behalf of the arts and cultural communities, on behalf of all Canadians, I ask the minister, can she tell us how much of the $500 million went directly to creators, artists and cultural organizations?

If I may apologize, I know I was to do some housekeeping first. I will not be sharing my time and there will be a short preamble before each of my questions.

[Chinese Canadian Recognition and Redress Act, November 15th, 2004]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-333, an act to recognize the injustices done to Chinese immigrants by head taxes and exclusion legislation, to provide for recognition of the extraordinary contribution they made to Canada, to provide for redress and to promote education on Chinese Canadian history and racial harmony.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise today to introduce this bill, the Chinese-Canadian recognition and redress act. I am pleased to join the member for Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette in his efforts to further this important cause.

A historical injustice was done to Chinese immigrants. Head tax and exclusion legislation was a racially based, unfair burden on an entire community. Governments should be held accountable for their actions, both positive and negative.

As a Japanese-Canadian, I remember the efforts of my father and the Japanese community to achieve the Japanese-Canadian redress agreement in the 1980s. I would not be fulfilling my father's legacy if I did not demand the same redress for the Chinese-Canadian community.

I recognize the significance this bill would have within the Chinese-Canadian community. It would allow Canada to truly move ahead with pride in its declaration as a truly multicultural country.

I ask all members in the House to join me in support of this important bill. I would also seek the unanimous consent of the House to have this bill designated Bill C-333.

[The Environment, November 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Durham region is one of the fastest growing areas in the greater Toronto area. We need to ensure that we do not fall behind. Durham needs a regional transportation plan and the federal government is an important part of this plan. The federal portion of the gas tax that will be dedicated to assisting rural areas and smaller communities is a key building block.

I rise today to congratulate a business in my riding which is doing its part to advance transportation and environmental causes and to contribute to cost savings for our municipality. The hydrogen fuel injection system, developed by Bowmanville based Canadian Hydrogen Energy Company will result in improved fuel economy and a reduction in emissions when installed on municipal buses.

Clarington is the first municipality in Canada to install this new technology on its buses. This is the kind of forward thinking that demonstrates--

[Canadian Heritage Act, October 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member could clarify why historical battlefields were left with the Department of Canadian Heritage and not moved along with the other historical sites?

The most significant historical battlefield would be the Plains of Abraham. We want to ensure that if he says Parks Canada has the expertise, that this historical site gets the same care and attention as other historical sites.

[Broadcasting, October 21st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, last spring important decisions were before the CRTC. During that same period the former minister of heritage, the former industry minister, the Clerk of the Privy Council and the Prime Minister's deputy chief of staff, Ruth Thorkelson, met with the chair of the CRTC. Liberal candidates then campaigned and made promises about CRTC decisions not yet taken.

Why were there so many meetings with the CRTC by ministers and senior officials if not to influence their outcome?

[Broadcasting Industry, October 18th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, many Liberal candidates promised to bring RAI TV to Canada in order to get elected. Last week the foreign affairs minister promised his Italian counterpart that RAI would be delivered within months.

Is it now the government's plan to use political interference to deliver on its election promise and deliver RAI TV to Canadians?

[Broadcasting Industry, October 18th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, when faced with a tough issue like RAI TV, the heritage minister hides behind the independence of the CRTC. The minister says that Canadians and the Italian foreign affairs minister will have to wait for the CRTC's arm's length decision. However, the foreign affairs minister promised to deliver full access to RAI TV within a few months.

Who speaks for the government and is the CRTC an independent body or not?

[Government Appointments, October 14th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the government promised taxpayers transparency and the end of patronage appointments. During the election, the Prime Minister promised parliamentary review of government appointments.

There are three CRTC commissioners whose terms expire shortly, two of them within 17 days. Could the heritage minister commit to fulfilling the Prime Minister's promise and ensure that appointments to the CRTC will be first presented to this House for review?