Peter Milliken

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Québec-Est has raised this question on several occasions, too often, I must say.

He got a good answer. On Friday, I tabled in the House a 1,450 page answer to his question. Apparently, he has not read it all.

As for the second part of his question, those 1,450 pages contained the answer. It is as follows: "The Minister of Public Works and Government Services has not identified any riding in particular. However we have a copy of the 1992 real property holdings directory, which includes a list of federal real property in the province of Quebec and the rest of Canada and can be obtained from the Library of Parliament or through a member of Parliament".

This information is available to anyone. It can be obtained from the Library of Parliament. There is no need to prepare an answer to be tabled here in the House when a copy of the same information is available at the Library just down the hall.

The hon. member can go there himself; there is no need to table such a document here in the House given the expense entailed in making copies.

[Government Response To Petitions, February 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to several petitions.

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 27th, 1995]

I am informed by the department of human Resources and the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec, FORD-Q, as follows:

In so far as Human Resources Development Canada, HRDC, is concerned:

a) b) and c) The Centre de l'interprétation de l'industrie de Shawinigan Inc., CII, is administered by a council of community workers, comprised of a variety of citizens. The building it is operating in at the moment is owned by Hydro-Quebec. Presently funding for this building is provided by five groups: ALCAN, Stone Console-Division Belgo, pulp and paper mill, Hydro-Quebec, the city of Shawinigan and the city of Shawinigan-South.

In the last four years HRDC has been providing the centre with local employment development projects, indirect funding. The centre acts as the sponsor for these training programs.

To date Human Resources Development Canada has committed a total of $1,212,359 toward the Centre de l'interprétation de l'industrie de Shawinigan Inc.

*The program is just beginning and at this time it is too early to estimate the number of people who will be employed during the next three operating years.

The guidelines followed can be found in the ED component of the employment manual, which inculdes several volumes. However, all Canada employment centres are equipped with these manuals.

In so far as the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec, (FORD-Q), is concerned:

a) b) and c) FORD-Q has awarded a contribution of $3.5 million to the Centre de l'interprétation de l'industrie de Shawinigan Inc., CII, under the regional development program, RDP. This CII project is eligible for assistance as a facility that will foster regional economic development and should create 300 jobs during the construction phase.

In addition, the centre will generate 40 direct jobs for its operations and 200 indirect jobs among concession holders, subcontractors and other firms in the region once it is up and running.

In the short term the centre will stimulate a variety of other tourism investments, particularly in the accommodation sector, in addition to helping to consolidate regional economic infrastructure. As well, it will contribute to preserving regional industrial heritage.

d) The responsibility for the different contracts lies with CII.

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I was so put off by all these points of order that I forgot that I do have a question to answer today. Question No. 115 will be answered today.

Question No. 115-

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 27th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the first point of order that was raised by the hon. member for Calgary Southeast, I indicated last week that I hoped I would have an answer by the end of the week and I am still optimistic. It obviously was not last week, but as soon as an answer is available I will provide the hon. member with an answer.

As to her allegation that reports to the Canada Council are vague, I have had occasion to look at the reports and have read them from time to time. My recollection is that there are substantial lists and no vagueness about them. They simply say who got grants. Perhaps the hon. member regards that as vague. Her question does ask who received grants. I would have thought that there was a pretty good source in those annual reports. I urge her to have a second look.

In any event, I will do my best to provide an answer for her at an early date.

With respect to the hon. member for Québec-Est, my recommendation is that he go through that box of materials I tabled in the House on Friday in response to his question.

I cannot say that I looked at all 1,200 pages before I tabled the documents, but I think he will find the answer in there. If he does not, I will take his representation as one I am prepared to raise with the minister involved. I will see if the additional information can be provided to the hon. member with dispatch.

[Questions Passed As Orders For Returns, February 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[Questions Passed As Orders For Returns, February 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, if Question Nos. 21, 85, 93 and 124 could be made Orders for Return, the returns would be tabled immediately.

I want to say with respect to Question No. 21 that it is a long outstanding question on the Order Paper. I am pleased the answer has been completed and I know the hon. member will find it quite marvellous.

With respect to Question No. 93, we have had a lot of bleating and whining in the last few days from the hon. member for Quebec East. I am pleased to table the answer to the question. This is the French version. I have an English version that is of similar size. I am only tabling one copy in the House to avoid having six boxes here today.

The hon. member says that it has taken a long time to answer this question. He is correct. Over 1,000 pages of material have been gathered painstakingly by the department. When I assured him the other day that public servants were working on this matter I was correct. I know now that he will see I was correct and I hope he has a nice weekend reading the answer.

[Starred Questions, February 24th, 1995]

Due to the length of the answer I ask that it be printed in Hansard as if read.

[Starred Questions, February 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, would you be so kind as to call Starred Question No. 86.

*Question No. 86-