Denis Paradis

[Lake Champlain, November 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I was recently a participant in a public consultation at Swanton, in Vermont, and Venise, in Quebec, on an issue that is vital to my riding of Brome-Missisquoi: the quality of water in Lake Champlain.

In the past three years, I have been in increasing contact with the political authorities on the American side to save Lake Champlain. An important step could be taken with the planned construction of the Swanton-Alburg bridge, but we are far from having settled the main problem, which is an earthwork that has been in place for 60 years now and is blocking the flow of water between Canada and the United States. It needs to be removed if our lake is to be saved.

Our neighbours to the south appear to have a lot of reasons for not doing so. They have even brought up the presence of soft-shelled turtles.

I will continue to make use of all possible forums to ensure that this natural treasure, our Lake Champlain, remains an important asset for future generations.

[Committees Of The House, October 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the subject of the free trade zone of the Americas, for an agreement that serves the interests of Canadians. This is the first report by the Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response thereto.

[Small Business Week, October 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this week is Small Business Week.

SMBs are the driving force behind our economy and, in Brome Missisquoi, they can be found in farming, tourism and the services sector. They create large number of jobs and are a new way of developing modern economies.

In Sutton, Magog, Knowlton, Farnham and Bedford, our young, small business entrepreneurs are imaginative, hard working, and involved in what they do for a living and in their community.

The Government of Canada is proud of all this country's young entrepreneurs. You are helping to build a better world.

[Sommet De La Francophonie, June 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, next September, the Prime Minister of Canada will be hosting the 8th Sommet de la Francophonie.

The city of Moncton, New Brunswick, will be welcoming 52 heads of state and of government who have the French language in common. As a new millennium fast approaches, this summit represents a major event for all francophone communities throughout the world.

It is important to know that the francophone community in Canada ranks second in the world, after France. Our country has seven million citizens who speak, write, sing, work and live in French. Of that number, one million live outside Quebec.

This summit also constitutes an important event for our youth, who will be the focal point of the debates and actions of the summit. They are the future of the Francophonie. The summit will place them in the forefront and we will be attentive to what they have to say.

In September all eyes will be on Moncton. I invite all Canadians to celebrate our francophone community.

[Rural Communities, June 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in April of next year, my riding of Brome—Missisquoi will host the Canadian conference on rural communities.

People from all regions of Canada will gather in Magog-Orford to exchange views on the concerns and needs of our country's regions. The conference will deal with important issues relating to rural life which, as members know, is very different from living in urban centres.

I am pleased that an event of that magnitude will take place in Magog-Orford, and I have no doubt that the participants will appreciate our hospitality and our beautiful region.

Rural regions are the soul of this country. They are often the cradle of a rich heritage, a way of life and a mentality that truly reflect the values that have shaped our nation.

[Riding Of Brome—Missisquoi, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, big things are happening in Brome—Missisquoi.

In the last election campaign, I made a commitment to promote cross-border shopping in our area by our American neighbours. A new magazine, The Shopper , will be distributed in Vermont twice a month to encourage shoppers to come to Brome—Missisquoi.

Vermont, which is located right next to my riding, offers a highly attractive market for our businesses. I thank Economic Development Canada for its contribution to this extraordinary project.

Congratulations to all the people in Magog, Bromont, Farnham, Bedford and Knowlton who have made this shopping guide possible. It will be launched officially at the end of this month.

Welcome to all the U.S. shoppers who will be coming into our area. Welcome to Brome-Missisquoi, fellow Americans.

[Tva Television Network, May 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, TVA took up a new challenge and went national, to the delight of all francophones across Canada.

I wish to congratulate the members of the advisory committee from each of the provinces for their excellent work, and in particular TVA and its president, Daniel Lamarre, for his vision and determination. This is a great step forward for francophones in Canada.

We know how pervasive a communication tool television is in the daily lives of Canadians.

Now they will have a much greater selection in the language of their choice. I wish TVA a long life from coast to coast.

[Quebec Minister Of International Affairs, April 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers are tired of referendums, and Premier Bouchard is promising us another one.

He has even sent Louise Beaudoin, his minister of international relations, to Belgium, where she told the newspaper Le Soir , as reported in its April 12 edition, that Canada and Quebec are drifting apart.

She went on to say “Things are such in Canada now that the federal government has become the central government. The provinces are simply advisory bodies, in essence like any other body”.

Ms. Beaudoin, come home quick. Being far away, you have lost the sense of what Canada is all about—decentralization, consensus and flexibility.

[Parti Quebecois, April 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in having the question of Quebec's separation moved to the foreground, Lucien Bouchard is sending the message of insecurity for the coming months.

More quarrels the Parti Quebecois will start in order to come up with the winning conditions. More disputes in all sorts of areas that the Parti Quebecois will blow into big issues.

Instead of all that, why not work together, for Quebeckers and Canadians, ensuring at the same time that Quebec retains its important position within the Canadian federation?

[Student Summer Employment Exchange Program, March 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the launching of the fourth edition of the student summer employment exchange program.

Four years ago, we initiated this little pilot project, which now provides more than 800 young people with an opportunity to discover another region of Canada, to learn a second language and appreciation of another culture, and to earn a little money toward their studies.

This project has become what it is today thanks to the contributions of many different parties. I want to particularly mention the involvement of the many host families and employers throughout Canada, and the more than 100 parliamentarians of all political stripes.

Our young people are the wealth of our future. Our young people are the best ambassadors of this program. They are our pride, and they will make tomorrow's Canada an extraordinary country in which mutual understanding lies at the heart of Canadian values.