Marcel Proulx

[Youth Employment Strategy, May 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on May 21, it was my honour to announce the Argenteuil in Bloom II project under our youth employment strategy program.

The purpose of this project is to enhance the employability of youth at risk, promote their social integration and lower the dropout rate. These ten young people, between the ages of 18 and 24, will help to beautify the main streets of the regional county municipality of Argenteuil, as well as improve the quality of the environment. They will help showcase the municipality's rich architectural heritage and make the community aware of how important the environment is.

This project was made possible thanks to the work of Argenteuil's chamber of commerce and industry. Its mission is to improve the health, well-being and economic development of businesses and residents of the Argenteuil RCM.

Congratulations to the chamber of commerce and industry, which is working to make it easier for young Canadians to enter the labour market, and good luck to the young participants.

[Transportation, May 16th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, to start with, the Government of Canada wishes to convey its prayers and thoughts for the families of those crew members missing in this tragic accident.

The Transportation Safety Board is the primary agency for investigation into railway accidents. Any safety deficiencies uncovered through the Transportation Safety Board's investigation to the department's compliance activities will of course be addressed immediately.

[Mirabel Airport, May 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Once again, it would appear as though not all of the information made it from Mirabel to Ottawa.

ADM has already informed Transport Canada that an international call for tenders to develop certain facilities at the Mirabel airport was being prepared. These facilities include the terminal, the hotel, administrative offices and public parking lots.

ADM is looking to find a future use for the site once passenger service is transferred to Dorval, and it must keep Transport Canada apprised of—

[Canada Airports Act, May 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised to hear those replies because Bill C-27 would establish principles for fees imposed by airport operators and my hon. colleague on the other side, along with his party, forever keeps criticizing the fees, whether they be high or low. The bill would look into the fees imposed by airport operators as defined in the legislation, including an appeal process to the Canadian Transportation Agency on future aeronautical and passenger fees that meet the past threshold.

I was under the impression that he had looked into this bill but from his comments, I feel that he has not looked at that part.

What about the creation of the adequate opportunity for users of airport facilities, including air carriers and the travelling public, to provide meaningful input into major airport decisions on charges--

[Canada Airports Act, May 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague across criticized, for the 10 minutes he had, the bill and the Government of Canada. I therefore assume that he has read the proposed bill. I therefore assume that he knows it very well and I appreciate that.

In return, I would like him to tell us what he has against the fact that the bill would clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Canadian government, as well as those of the airport authorities and operators. I would like him to tell us what he has against the updating and strengthening of the governance regime for airport authorities. I would like him to tell us what he has against the establishment of requirements for transparency and consultations between airport operators and interested parties.

[Canada Airports Act, May 7th, 2003]

Madam Speaker, my colleague went through some of the changes. When we look at this there appear to be changes that affect the day to day operations of airports, such as setting strict requirements for meetings, publication of notices and reports, assignments of stocks and so on. I would like his brief comment on whether he feels this is bringing the government back into those day to day operations. I expect that he does not want to see this, but I would like to hear it from him.

[Saint-Hubert Airport, May 1st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member opposite for her question. She is aware that we have been looking into this matter for several months. Unfortunately, I must tell her that our review is not yet finished, but that it will not take much longer.

[Family Supplement, April 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I simply want to remind the hon. member for Québec that representations have been made. I am aware of several representations made on this side of the House by my colleagues from Quebec and by our colleagues in the Senate.

Indeed, the Canadian heritage minister and the finance minister are examining this situation very closely. It would seem that my colleague already knows what will be announced tomorrow. I will not try to guess what is in the offing, but I am confident that both ministers will examine the situation thoroughly to come up with a solution.

[Family Supplement, April 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to apologize to the member for Québec. I am standing in for the parliamentary secretary at a moment's notice to answer the question, and, unfortunately, I realize that the question comes from the member for Québec, but that all my notes are in English. I will ask my colleague to be patient and understanding because I will answer her question in French. I believe that francophones from Quebec should speak French to each other.

I am pleased to answer the question asked by my colleague on the issue of the importance of Canadian stories, events and themes that are shown on television, which is one of Canada's favourite pastimes.

The Canadian government has a remarkable record in supporting our Canadian television programs. One great moment occurred in 1996 when the government created the Canadian television fund, a joint initiative of the private and public sectors which provides $200 million every year for productions.

This fund has been sufficiently generous to be able to create considerable impact on prime time programming. Since then, in excess of 2,600 projects have received financial assistance from the fund. That translates into some 13,700 hours of good TV, good Canadian programming, with production budgets in excess of $4.1 billion.

Whether documentaries, children's programs, arts and entertainment, English, French or aboriginal programs, in all parts of the country this programming is in prime time, that is the time when Canadians like to watch good TV.

The Canadian television fund is one of our government's success stories. Is supports and reflects what is good about Canada to the people of Canada.

I see time is passing quickly, but I must remind my colleague that the Minister of Canadian Heritage has already stated this week that she is working with the Minister of Finance to review the situation and try to settle the immediate or short term problems relating to this fund.

As the Minister of Canadian Heritage has said this week, and I repeat, the Minister of Finance and herself are working closely together cto find solutions to this problem.

[Family Supplement, April 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, there is one thing that I would like to point out to my colleague. He accepts the fact that Quebec has not signed this agreement. But he wants to go beyond that. I would like to remind him that, unless this agreement is signed, it becomes very difficult for the government to act within this agreement.

However, as we all know—and my colleague knows it very well—a new government was elected in Quebec last week. I think that the newly elected Liberal Party of Quebec intends to deal more openly with the Government of Canada. I therefore hope that we will be able to complete and sign these agreements in the very near future, and move ahead with projects designed to improve the road system in Quebec.

I certainly hope that highway 35 will be considered, and at the same time, I would like the government to include in the national highway system highway 50 in my region.