Dean Del Mastro

[Points of Order, November 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I actually thought referring to the member as a partisan chair would be something he would be proud of because that is how he conducts himself.

Yesterday, I brought a motion before that committee and the member did not even allow me the opportunity to introduce or speak to the motion. I thought that was abuse of my privilege as a member, but he did not much care about that because that is how he operates.

He also interjected into my allotted question time because he objected to a word that I used, a word that perhaps he is a little touchy about, a word that prompted the member for Scarborough Southwest to tweet that she thought that apparently I should lose some weight, which I also thought was inappropriate. I used the word “crime” when talking about Liberal actions related to the sponsorship scandal. He insisted before the witness that I could not use that word. I will read directly--

[Points of Order, November 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I am in fact saddened to rise on this point of order because I had hoped members in the House would not sink to this level. However, this morning the member for Scarborough Southwest made an entry on Twitter that I find particularly demeaning, discriminatory and unbecoming of a member of Parliament.

This morning, in the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, I had to put up with the abhorrent behaviour of a partisan chair, who pays no attention to the rules governing parliamentary committees whatsoever. However, during that meeting, I provided the respect that each member is due.

The member for Scarborough Southwest wrote on her Twitter, and I apologize as I will have to use my name, “In committee this morning. M.P. Del Mastro should grow up (not out)”. I hear some people in the House laughing and that is unfortunate. I apologize for not being perfect and perhaps my stature does not meet the criteria that some members in the House set, but I have battled that problem since birth. I apologize for not actually fitting into the requirements.

I still hear the chastising going on. It is this kind of arrogance and elitism that will be the downfall of the Liberal Party if this continues. I am giving the member the opportunity to apologize. The actions of the members in committee this morning do nothing to discourage me. They only encourage me.

I would ask the member to take the opportunity to apologize for what she wrote. She may wish to consider that a number of her own constituents are less than perfect and she represents them as well.

[Olympic Winter Games, November 6th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is kind of disgraceful that the Liberal Party is trying to politicize this.

As I said earlier, VANOC organized this, and of course we heard what CEO John Furlong had to say.

Let us listen to what the Liberal member for Vancouver Quadra had to say about VANOC. She said:

VANOC can be proud of their seamless organization, embodying the Olympic principles of excellence, friendship and fairness. Congratulations to John Furlong and his Organizing Committee.

What in the world are they going on about over there? One minute he is doing a great job, and the next minute he is not. I cannot figure it out.

[Olympic Winter Games, November 6th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, of course it is “ready, fire, aim” on the other side. These desperate conspiracy theories are totally false, but do not take my word for it. Let us listen to what John Furlong, the CEO of VANOC had to say about this issue. He said:

At no time did anyone in any government, or any political party offer one iota of counsel or influence about that.... We did our jobs the way we should have done them.

That is what John Furlong said. The member must have a problem with John Furlong.

[Business of Supply, November 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the member speaks to the clarity of messages. She mentions that Canadians have a number of questions. However, this member well knows that the hon. Minister of Health and the Chief Public Health Officer, David Butler-Jones, have appeared before the health committee several times.

They have participated in hundreds of media availabilities and Health Canada has delivered one of the most comprehensive public awareness campaigns in our country's history. This week, the premiers and chief medical officers in the provinces and territories are doing their best to convey a clear message about the rollout of the vaccine, but the Liberals are currently attempting to muddle all of these efforts and messages.

They want to muddle these clear messages being sent by chief medical officers, professionals across this country, the Minister of Health and Dr. David Butler-Jones. Why are they doing that? Why are they muddling a clear message being sent to Canadians?

[November 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, educational broadcasters, such as Télé-Québec, will continue to be eligible under the criteria established by the Canada media fund. The member has no concerns there.

I would also like to reiterate the government's position regarding audience success. In the government's view, quality, diverse content and audience success all go hand in hand. The government is confident that educational broadcasters, such as Télé-Québec, will continue to benefit from the Canada media fund. The design of the Canada media fund is aligned with the government's strategy to secure a more effective investment on behalf of all Canadians.

[November 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to have the opportunity to speak about the Canada new media fund, a great fund that supports Canadian production and creation, a fund worth over $300 million, jointly contributed to by broadcast distribution undertakings, BDUs, cable and satellite providers in this country and the Government of Canada. It is worth about $180 million from the BDUs, and about $126 million from the Government of Canada. It is a very important fund.

I am happy to say that educational broadcasters, like Télé-Quebec, will continue to benefit from the Canada media fund. The Canada new media fund will support all kinds of programming that Canadians from all walks of life are looking for, including educational programming, produced with the financial participation of Télé-Québec.

The renewal of the government's contribution and the creation of the Canada new media fund set the stage for Canadian content in the digital age.

The member is quite right in some respects. This government does believe, as did previous governments, as there were similar requirements in any former Canadian television fund, that quality, diverse content and audience success go hand in hand. That is why the government believes in Canadian content and in the talents of those who create it. We believe that we should reward audience success.

Over the last five years programs broadcast by Télé-Québec have benefited from $34.8 million from the Canada television fund including a $7.7 million envelope this year. Support for Télé-Quebec will continue under the Canada new media fund.

[November 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the member's comments.

The member has indicated he is a health professional and he would be aware of Canada's stocks of Tamiflu and Relenza, antivirals that we have invested in to make sure Canada is in fact prepared. We have made key investments in groups such as ICAV, located at Trent University in Peterborough, which is working on research on truly human monoclonal antibodies for people who are sick, so we can, in a much more aggressive way, deal with viruses like H1N1.

The Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, has spoken with our health minister on numerous occasions and told Canadians how to be prepared for this virus.

In August I sent out a mailing to my entire riding telling constituents how to be prepared for a flu virus. I undertook that because I think all 308 of us in the House are elected into a position of leadership in our communities.

I would ask the member if he has sent out a full distribution mailing to constituents in his entire riding to tell them how to be prepared to combat the H1N1 virus.

[November 2nd, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I listened to the hon. member's comments with great interest.

The first thing I wanted to do was commend the hon. member for putting the interests of Canadians first. He made a very thoughtful, rational and reasonable intervention here this evening, where he clearly demonstrated that what matters most is the people in our ridings. I think that is the way each and every one of us feel.

I would simply state that I believe that this type of effort and this type of intervention is what Canadians expect of this Parliament and what they are hoping that this Parliament is able to achieve when we face challenges like this one.

I guess I have nothing further to say to the member other than to commend him for his intervention this evening.

[November 2nd, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I am sure it will come as no surprise to you that I find the comments of the hon. member distasteful, outrageous and irresponsible.

The Liberal Party of Canada has sought from the outset to politicize this, to confuse and to confound Canadians, to work against the coordination that has existed among this government, the provinces and people who deliver health care in our country. They should be ashamed of themselves, that member in particular.

The member has pointed out that other countries ordered the vaccine in advance. Could he name a single country that has more vaccine per capita than Canada? If he cannot, he is wrong. He should name the country.