Bev Oda

[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?

[Canadian Heritage, October 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, my apologies.

Canadians expect responsible leadership. In the Banff festival speech the minister said not one word in what the government has done, was doing or is planning to do for the Canadian television industry in Canada. Instead, abuse of her role as the minister was rewarded by a plum appointment as the principal secretary to the Prime Minister.

When will the government stop abusing the trust of Canadians, and admit when it is wrong and pay back the taxpayers?

[Canadian Heritage, October 13th, 2004]

Mr. Minister, Canadians expect--

[Canadian Heritage, October 13th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the heritage minister said that her predecessor attended the Banff festival in her role as the minister. Her speech was an 800 word scaremongering attack, including direct quotes from the Conservative Party policy statement. This is not the role of a minister.

When will the government pay back the taxpayers for the $50,000 spent on that election speech?

[Agriculture, October 12th, 2004]

Mr. Chairman, if the Liberal Party is committed to farmers and committed to doing more than announcing programs that do not work and announcing money that never hits the home and the farm gate and never helps the families, where are the Liberals this evening. Where are they in the House to debate and to bring forward a good healthy--

[Canadian Heritage, October 12th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, yes, I was on the CRTC, but I was also on the board of the Banff festival, and the Banff trip and the Banff festival is not an election campaign stop.

That is why this speech is only on the Liberal Party's official website. This speech was so partisan that the department did not dare put it on its website.

Will this $50,000 of campaign expense be claimed as such with Elections Canada and be paid back to taxpayers?