James Moore

[Official Languages, April 30th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I know the Liberals are having their convention in Vancouver. Maybe the member could go and meet with the people at VANOC and recognize that everything she just said is entirely false.

The opening ceremonies and every single Olympics site will respect the official languages. There are signs all over the city of Vancouver and all the host cities in both official languages. The Cultural Olympiad, the opening and closing ceremonies, the torch relay, the 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Games will be entirely respectful of Canada's official languages.

We are getting the job done. We are exceeding the standards set by the IOC. We are respecting Canada's official languages. We are getting the job done.

[Official Languages, April 30th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, that is just not true. Let me be clear. Every Olympic Games site, including the Richmond Oval, will have bilingual signage. The 1988 winter Olympic Games in Calgary were a big improvement over the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, and the 2010 winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver will be a big improvement over the winter Olympic Games in Calgary.

Every single site, along with translation services, the cultural Olympiad, broadcasting, volunteers, the Internet site, the torch relay and the opening and closing ceremonies, will be bilingual.

[Canadian Flag Pins, April 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have explained the policy. If he does not get it by now, he never will.

If he wants to talk about standing up for the manufacturing sector, perhaps he can stand up in this House and explain why he said that he would vote against the budget before he even read the budget. Perhaps he could stand in this House and explain why he campaigned in 2004, 2006 and 2008 saying that he would go to Ottawa, be an independent voice and stand and vote against the long gun registry.

Last week he showed his true colours by not standing up for his constituents, breaking his word to his voters and continuing the NDP legacy of turning its back when it comes to standing up for rural Canadians.

[Canadian Flag Pins, April 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I think Canadians are getting a little sick and tired of this one trick from the one trick pony of Timmins—James Bay.

The fact is that I have explained how Parliament Hill purchases of pins are done. I have explained how the Department of Public Works purchases pins. I have also explained to that hon. member how, if he wants to purchase pins that are made wherever he wants, he can do so with his own MP budget.

What I am still looking for the explanation for is how that member can go back to his riding with a straight face after having campaigned to scrap the long gun registry and then stands up in the House, burns his back on his constituents, breaks his word and does not stand up for his constituents and votes to keep the registry.

[Canada Day, April 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I am more than proud to take credit for what this government is doing for arts and culture, for Canadian history and for standing up for Canada on Canada Day. Our government is spending more money on arts and culture than any government in Canadian history.

With regard to the celebrate Canada fund, this is an important fund that supports communities across this country. We have improved the fund from when the Liberals were in government. When the Liberals were in government, 80% of this money went only to Liberal-held ridings. We are ensuring that this fund will continue to be improved so that money goes across this country on a more equitable basis.

I did not hear that member complaining when money went to his communities of Iroquois Falls, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee and Timmins. When it all went to his riding he was happy about that.

[Canadian Flag Pins, April 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have answered this question a number of times. The pins purchased by the Department of Public Works must abide by all of the trade laws in this country, of course. The pins sold on Parliament Hill are by the direction of the Board of Internal Economy. If that member wants to purchase and sell anything, he is free to use his MP budget to do so.

However, we have purchased the pins through a process that was fair, open and transparent. Anybody could have applied for it. We have done our job. If the hon. member would just look at the facts and recognize what is before him, he would recognize that this government has done its job in standing up for Canada.

[Canada Day, April 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the chart my colleague is referring to represents half of the existing program. We continue to seek means of improving the situation on the field so that Canada can be celebrated in each and every part of this country.

[Canada Day, April 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, once again, this is completely false. Those figures are completely false. The figures on the level of investments in Quebec and on the level of investments in this program are completely false.

Let us make it clear: the last group we would consult on the best way to celebrate Canada is the Bloc Québécois.

[Arts and Culture, April 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, of course the member's facts are entirely wrong. It seems that she and the Bloc Québécois got their facts from the exact same inaccurate newspaper.

The reality is that we have increased funding to support Canadian festivals across this country, including Canada Day, to celebrate Canada. The numbers that she is using are entirely wrong.

We are using this money effectively to support festivals and events across this country that support the birthday of this country. We are proud to do that and we are doing it in a way that is more effective than what the Liberals did, as I described, in a report that was done that showed that 79% of the money under the Liberals went to Liberal only ridings.

We are doing our job to ensure that Canada is celebrated and celebrated with honour.

[Canadian Flag Pins, April 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I did give a straightforward answer about the pins that are sold on Parliament Hill. The contract for the pins that are purchased by the Government of Canada and distributed to members of Parliament went to, wait for it, a Canadian company in Montreal. We are doing our job.

If the hon. member wants to distribute different pins from his office, he is free to use his MP budget and purchase whatever pins he wants.

We will make it crystal clear that this government has always stood up for this country and for our symbols in spite of the noise from the NDP.