House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 60% of the vote.
Broadcasting Industry April 23rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the government is reported to be in talks with private broadcasters as the industry tries to cope with the current economic downturn.
Will the government include the CBC in those talks, given that our public broadcaster is facing the same challenges, or is it simply happy to keep the current double standard?
Arts and Culture April 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the problem is that no one believes them. Thousands of Canadians tell us every day that they do not want cuts to the arts. They also tell us that the government must support the CBC. This morning, we received a petition signed by 110,000 Canadians who support the CBC, but the government is turning a deaf ear.
Can we restore democracy in our Parliament? The Prime Minister wants to act like the new king of Canada, but that will not wash here. Parliament supports the CBC. Canadians support the CBC. Will he listen for once?
Arts and Culture April 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages does not know him, but Robert Lepage is internationally recognized and acclaimed. Mr. Lepage is a director, author, actor and filmmaker and, since yesterday, a recipient of the Governor General's Award. Mr. Lepage attributed this award to the international influence his work has. He also took the opportunity to criticize the cuts made to assistance for artists who want to tour internationally. Robert Lepage is right, and the government is wrong.
Will the minister do the honourable thing, apologize and correct this situation?
Business of Supply March 31st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and congratulate him on his excellent speech. We can see that he is very knowledgeable on the issue. We can also see that he attaches a great deal of importance to news in the regions, to the CBC's presence in the regions, and to linguistic duality, that is, the need for English and French television in Canada, unlike the government, which has slashed in almost every area of culture.
As I said a little earlier, one might think that the Conservatives are attacking culture in general and the CBC in particular. Although they did not cut funding directly, they refused the corporation's request for financial assistance in the form of a loan or bridge financing. They completely slammed the door. And as a result, 800 jobs will be lost and some of its assets will have to be sold. Based on what the Conservatives have said over the years, clearly, they have always wanted to get rid of the CBC.
Would my colleague agree that the Conservative government is trying to do indirectly what it cannot do directly, that is, completely eliminate the CBC?
Business of Supply March 31st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, there is a French expression to describe my colleague's speech: he is out in the field. He is way out in left field. He is a member of a government that has made drastic cuts to culture. The Conservatives cancelled the PromArt and Trade Routes programs and at least a dozen others. They never lifted a finger, not even once, to help the CBC. They say they have increased its budget but that is completely false. They have not given one cent more. The only increase was the 1.5% allocated by Treasury Board. Therefore, their claim is completely false. Someone mentioned an additional $60 million, which is also not true.
We know that the members of this government have said, over and over for the past 10 years, that they want to abolish the CBC. I ask them today, is this a brazen attempt to use the current economic crisis as a pretext for doing what they have always wanted to do, that is, to axe the corporation?
Business of Supply March 31st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, let me think about it. No.
Business of Supply March 31st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague for his comments.
Today, we heard the Conservatives talk about CBC/Radio-Canada, and we saw just how deep their cultural cuts went. They cut some 15 cultural programs. Now they are refusing to lift a finger to help our national public broadcaster.
My question is simple: does my colleague get the sense that the government is trying to use the crisis as an excuse to get rid of CBC/Radio-Canada?
We know what the government thinks of our national public broadcaster, but does my colleague get the feeling that the government is trying to use the current economic crisis as a pretext for slashing the corporation's funding?
Business of Supply March 31st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I have to say that the member has some nerve to come here and talk to us about culture today. The Conservatives cut just about everything they could cut, including programs like PromArt and Trade Routes. People in the cultural sector are running away from them. People in Canada's cultural sector fear the government as they fear plague. So he has some nerve talking to us about the Conservative government's commitment.
He said that funding for CBC/Radio-Canada had been increased, but it has not. He mentioned an additional $60 million, but there is no such thing. That money was already there.
I would like to read something and get his reaction. This person said that the government “would put [Radio-Canada]...in a situation where subsidies are weaned away and the future of the company is based on consumer satisfaction."
That is pretty clear. That was a quote from his leader, the Prime Minister. Does he agree with that statement?
Business of Supply March 31st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, my colleague understands the importance of CBC for our regions, which the government does not.
The government said that it increased CBC/Radio-Canada's budget, but we all know that this is absolutely false. We also have a number of quotes from government members, from members of the former Reform Party, who wanted to systematically reduce the corporation's funding, year after year. These people are now in office.
Does my colleague agree that the government is trying to take advantage of the current economic crisis to go after CBC/Radio-Canada? Is the government not trying to do indirectly what it cannot do directly?
Business of Supply March 31st, 2009
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his speech and his comments. With the inaction of the Conservative government, we are seeing massive cuts of 800 jobs and the necessity of selling assets. I am afraid not only because of these job losses, but also with regard to the ability of our public broadcaster to play its role in the future.
Does my colleague share this fear that these cuts and these program and service cutbacks will affect the long-term future of the CBC/Radio-Canada?