Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Will the member opposite be kind enough to indicate to which of the motions in Group No. 1 he is referring?
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 58% of the vote.
Foreign Publishers Advertising Services Act February 10th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Will the member opposite be kind enough to indicate to which of the motions in Group No. 1 he is referring?
National Film Board Of Canada February 9th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, allow me to join all Canadians in congratulating the National Film Board of Canada on its 63rd Oscar nomination received today from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the category of documentary short subject for its production entitled Sunrise Over Tiananmen Square .
Directed by Shui-Bo Wang, this animated short film offers a personal perspective on the sequence of events that led up to the June morning in 1989 when government troops opened fire on student demonstrators in Beijing. Shui-Bo Wang is a Chinese artist who was part of the student demonstration that occupied the square for almost a month. This film was produced for the National Film Board by Don McWilliams, Barrie Angus McLean and David Verrall.
We should also be proud of the National Film Board receiving a technical achievement award later this month. This award honours the work of National Film Board scientists Messrs. Zwaneveld and Gasoi who along with colleagues from the private sector developed a post-production technology known as DigiSync Film Keykode Reader.
Dr. Howard Alper February 5th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure two days ago of attending a ceremony during which a professor of chemistry at the University of Ottawa, and a constituent of Ottawa—Vanier, Dr. Howard Alper, was honoured by being named Officer of the Order of Canada.
He is a research scientist, scholar and educator of international reputation. His scientific discoveries related to polyesters, fibres, foams and pharmaceuticals have led to significant economic growth in numerous sectors of our society.
He was instrumental in initiating and developing the partnership action group for science and engineering whose member societies address issues concerning research and applications of science in Canada and define their economic benefits.
Dr. Alper is also known for encouraging important reflections upon the future of science and engineering.
I congratulate and thank Dr. Alper for his contribution to Canada and wish him and his family the very best.
Questions On The Order Paper December 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Government Response To Petitions December 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 13 petitions.
Questions On The Order Paper December 1st, 1998
The Department of Canadian Heritage did not hold consultations with the National Association of Japanese Canadians prior to deciding to make the changes to the mandate and reporting structure of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation proposed in Bill C-44, The Administrative Tribunals (Remedial and Disciplinary Measures) Act. However, when the amendments to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation Act were first introduced in June 1996 in Bill C-49, The Administrative Tribunals (Remedial and Disciplinary Measures) Act, now Bill C-44, the honourable Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women), informed stakeholders, including the National Association of Japanese Canadians, NAJC, that the government intends to maintain a lead role in race relations policy and programming and that amendments are necessary to avoid overlap and duplication of efforts.
The amendments to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation Act are in keeping with the government's commitment to streamline federal boards, agencies and corporations and to make them more accountable to the Canadian public. The amendments will also clarify the mandate of the foundation to ensure that it will be able to achieve its objectives and that it will efficiently and effectively complement the activities of the Government of Canada.
In addition, the changes to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation Act will make it easier for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation to be a significant factor in the resolution of race relations issues in Canada. The proposed amendments do not alter our vision of the key role the foundation will play. It will be a centre of excellence, a national resource to serve the information and research needs of governments, public and private institutions, researchers, communities and the general public.
Questions On The Order Paper November 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Government Response To Petitions November 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 22 petitions.
Marine Conservation Areas Act November 26th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I would like to respond to statements made by some of my distinguished colleagues to the effect that Bill C-48 infringes on provincial jurisdiction, in Quebec and the other provinces, over the seabed. Nothing could be further from the truth.
With respect to marine areas surrounding Quebec, there is one area where the seabed clearly falls under provincial jurisdiction and that is the St. Lawrence estuary. A special agreement and matching legislation have been developed for the Saguenay—St. Lawrence marine park, which encompasses this area. I dare say this was a fine example of co-operation, both within this House and between our respective governments.
In the other marine areas surrounding Quebec, jurisdiction over the seabed is either clearly federal or disputed by the two levels of government, that is the Canadian government and the Province of Quebec.
In Bill C-48, we are proposing the establishment of marine conservation areas where the federal government has jurisdiction over the seabed, based on current possession or a federal-provincial agreement.
Jurisdiction over the seabed in a specific area may be disputed. But that is a different mater entirely. The purpose of this bill is not to resolve such disputes.
We have no intention of acting unilaterally in an area under dispute. This must be clearly understood. Saying otherwise would be misleading the House.
Ideally, any dispute concerning jurisdiction over the seabed should be resolved before a marine conservation area is established. We would have consultations to find a mutually acceptable solution. In some cases, it is possible that the marine region may be represented by another area where jurisdiction over the marine floor is not at issue.
Again, contrary to what was repeatedly claimed in this House by Bloc Quebecois members, we have absolutely no intention of acting unilaterally in a region where the marine floor is at issue. Let us be clear on this.
We are already using the model proposed in the bill. Following the federal-provincial memorandum of understanding signed in March 1997 with the Government of Ontario, we are now jointly looking at the possibility of establishing a marine conservation area in the western part of Lake Superior.
We are also working with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador on a feasibility study for a marine conservation area in the Bonavista and Notre Dame Bay areas. That study was initiated following the signing of a federal-provincial memorandum of understanding, in February 1997. Moreover, the MOU on the Pacific marine heritage legacy signed with British Columbia in 1995 provides that the two levels of government must undertake a joint feasibility study for a marine conservation area in the southern part of the Strait of Georgia.
Following these studies, if the governments come to the conclusion that a marine conservation area can be established, the next step will be the negotiation of an agreement between the Canadian government and the province concerned. Such an agreement would include the terms and conditions under which the marine conservation area would be established, including provisions on the transfer to the Canadian government of all submerged provincial lands, if necessary.
Such federal-provincial agreements are already in place for the creation of marine conservation areas in Fathom Five, Georgian Bay, Ontario and in Gwaii Haanas, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia.
This shows that a good number of provinces are collaborating in a concept of marine conservation areas that is compatible with the provisions in this bill.
The model underlying Bill C-48, that is ownership of the land by the Government of Canada, is clearly necessary when the Government of Canada already owns the land. That is the intent of the bill.
Our experience with the agreements and feasibility studies on marine conservation areas already described shows that the model proposed in this bill is entirely reasonable and pertinent, whether those holding the contrary view like it or not.
On this note, I move:
That the question be now put.
Stephanie Bolster November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to congratulate a very deserving constituent of mine. Ms. Stephanie Bolster was awarded the Governor General's Literacy Award in poetry for her book White Stone: The Alice Poems .
I offer the jury's citation for her work: “ White Stone: The Alice Poems was judged the best book of poetry in 1998 for as many reasons as there are poems in this wonderful sequence, but due primarily to Stephanie Bolster's ability to depict the emotional life of Alice Liddell as girl and woman in brilliant narrative juxtapositions. She uses her lyrical powers to present Alice the creation and Alice the person in a cultural context that, on one level, re-examines cognition and dissociation and on another liberates the poetic sequence from the monotony of story and closure”.
I congratulate Ms. Bolster for her creativity and contribution to Canadian culture.