Mauril Bélanger

[Citizenship and Immigration, March 12th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, since the earthquake in January, members of Canada's Haitian community have been worried about the fate of their loved ones in Haiti.

The Government of Quebec has used its powers under the 1991 Canada-Quebec agreement on the selection and settlement of immigrants to be more flexible about sponsoring families. In fact, the Government of Quebec has decided to temporarily broaden the concept of family reunification.

The Government of Canada, however, is refusing to be more flexible.

Why?

[Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act, March 8th, 2010]

Madam Speaker, I am somewhat surprised by the answer of the member promoting this bill to my colleague's question about Canada's French-speaking community outside Quebec. My colleague has chosen to ignore this community rather than honestly answer the question.

I will ask the question again: does he not give a damn about francophones outside Quebec?

[Official Languages, March 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the day after the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympic Games, the Minister of Official Languages was the first—the first—to criticize VANOC, saying that French should have been more prominent, and even adding that VANOC had reassured him in that regard.

Now that journalists are asking for proof of that reassurance, the minister is refusing to provide it. A leopard cannot change its spots. When asked for transparency, he becomes completely opaque.

Why does the minister refuse to trust the good judgment of Canadians?

[Phyllis Gotlieb, November 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this past summer Canada lost one of its pioneers in science fiction writing, Phyllis Gotlieb, born Phyllis Bloom, in Toronto, in 1926.

The Sunburst Award, an award given annually to Canadian writers of speculative fiction, is named after her first novel, Sunburst, published in 1964. Thanks to our parliamentary library, I have now had the pleasure to read that novel. I am truly happy to have discovered an author who gives us great characters and an intelligent storyline. I look forward to reading more of her novels.

Some have called her the mother of Canadian science fiction; others, grandmother. Robert J. Sawyer, Canada's most successful author of the genre, settled it by calling her the grand dame of Canadian science fiction, and I concur.

I wish to extend to her husband, Calvin Gotlieb, her son, Leo, and her daughters, Margaret and Jane, our condolences, but also our gratitude for her legacy.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, November 19th, 2009]

With respect to language training, for each fiscal year from 2005–2006 to 2008–2009: (a) how much did the government spend in each province and territory to help newcomers learn (i) French, (ii) English; (b) how much did the government give to third parties in each province and territory to help newcomers learn (i) French, (ii) English; and (c) what are the names of the third parties that received funding for this purpose?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, November 19th, 2009]

What are the names and titles of the Official Languages Champions in each department and agency for each year from 2004 to 2009?

[Interparliamentary Delegations, November 6th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association respecting its bilateral visits to Luanda, Angola and Windhoek, Namibia on August 16 to 21.

One of the changes we have made with this report is in the past we have not made specific recommendations, but at this point, the delegation unanimously thought it should recommend that the government seriously consider the establishment of a trade office in Angola for the purposes that are very obvious and are referred to in the report.

[November 2nd, 2009]

Look at your nose.

[Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities, October 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the work of Lise Routhier-Boudreau, a proud Franco-Ontarian who, in September, concluded a two-year term at the head of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne, the FCFA.

Under her leadership, the FCFA had a very busy two years, particularly with the development of the community strategic plan and the fight against the elimination of the court challenges program.

I would also like to congratulate the new president, Marie-France Kenny, from Saskatchewan, who has been working on the issue of official languages for some 20 years. I have no doubt that her knowledge of these communities and associations, and her enthusiasm, will serve her well.

The new president will continue talks begun with the Canadian government on the slow to be implemented Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality.

Again I would like to thank Ms. Routhier-Boudreau and wish Ms. Kenny all the best.

[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, September 29th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, since being elected to Parliament, I have been involved in cultural matters. Today, I am pleased to tell you about a petition from the Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne or FESFO, signed by several hundred young Franco-Ontarians who are concerned about the decline in the revenues of CBC/Radio-Canada.

The FESFO is calling for Radio-Canada programming to be restored to its previous level in francophone Ontario and for the station in Windsor to be reopened.

Unfortunately, because of a technical detail, I am unable to present this petition in the House. However, I feel it is crucial that the minister responsible for CBC/Radio-Canada receive it, which is why I will give it to him by the end of question period.

I met with FESFO representatives, who also indicated that they would request a meeting with Sylvain Lafrance, executive vice-president of French services at CBC/Radio-Canada. I urge Mr. Lafrance to agree to meet with these people as soon as possible.