Raymonde Folco

[Address in Reply, April 4th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, what is absent from this throne speech is a vision for the advancement of francophone and Canadian arts and culture,as well as for a bilingual society.

My question for the member is this: is the government therefore telling Canadians and the House that it does not intend to comply with the Official Languages Act or the action plan for official languages, more specifically the commitment to put in place positive measures to promote French and English as minority languages, in Canada and in Quebec respectively?

[Committees of the House, November 28th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities regarding the 2004-05 report on the implementation of the Centennial Flame Research Award Act.

[Committees of the House, November 23rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in relation to its study on the Summer Career Placements Program.

The 14 recommendations contained in the report are presented in a spirit of cooperation on the part of all the witnesses who have testified before the committee and all committee members on both sides, to improve on a program that is already working very well and benefiting each summer thousands of students across Canada.

Both rural and urban communities from as far away as Labrador to small communities like Lindsay and Peterborough to British Columbia and beyond have benefited from this program. Broadening of accessibility and automation of the application process were among the several recommendations.

Once again, I thank all committee members, who have put their knowledge of statistics and their understanding of the needs of their communities at the service of the committee to produce this report. Working with all of you has been a real pleasure.

[Intergovernmental Affairs, November 21st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Following a meeting between the new leader of the head office of the sovereignist forces in Quebec and his Ottawa lieutenant on the weekend, Mr. Boisclair said he saw no reason to comply with federal legislation on referendum clarity and that a PQ government would declare independence unilaterally following a “yes” victory in a referendum.

Can the minister tell this House whether this scenario might ensue?

[Premiers of Quebec, November 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a strong reaction to recent comments made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Could he clarify his thinking for us?

[The Environment, November 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment is still engaged in negotiations with all the Canadian provinces, including Quebec. These partnerships will help us honour our Kyoto commitment.

Can the minister share with this House his determination to reach a positive and fruitful agreement with the Government of Quebec?

[Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, November 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, today one of the daily newspapers is defending the prudent use of the CMHC surplus by the Minister of Labour and Housing, who is responsible for that corporation.

According to the editorial, the Bloc Québécois member “is barking up the wrong tree when he says he is worried that CMHC surplus funds may have been put to purposes other than housing. There is nothing that says the profits generated by CMHC activities have to be ploughed back into housing subsidies”.

Can the minister remind the House of CMHC's legitimate business mission?

[Alzheimer Society of Laval, October 26th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Alzheimer Society of Laval, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Since 1995, this organization has continued to expand the services it provides to residents of Laval with Alzheimer's and to their families.

In order to meet the needs of the people of Laval, this organization is working to build a home for people in the early and moderate stages of Alzheimer's.

The organization recently paid tribute to the efforts of its administrators, including Marcel Léonard, its members, including François Perreault, its volunteers and staff, including Ginette Joly, and its partners, including Pfizer Canada, during an gala held in their honour. The three founders, Pierre A. Grothé, René Roy and Jean Rizzuto, were also remembered for their contribution.

No doubt due to the rapid aging of the population and the growing number of individuals suffering from this disease, the Alzheimer Society of Laval will become, more than ever, an essential tool in our community.

[Member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, October 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we learn today that the hon. member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie believes that if Quebec someday became sovereign, it would need an army right away, since a sovereign Quebec might have to go to war.

We might well ask the hon. member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie whom he thinks a future sovereign Quebec would declare war against.

While the hon. member is dreaming of unlikely military conquests, I would like to remind him that Quebeckers are far more concerned about how to deal with the impact of the aging population on the health care system.

Social programs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change are the primary concerns of Quebeckers, not joining an army to tilt at windmills.

This just proves once again that the hon. member is far more interested in destroying our country than in defending the interests of Quebec.

[Human Resources and Skills Development, October 5th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development for the thoroughness and openness in which her department responded to the 20 recommendations of the standing committee's sixth report, examining the new directives governing contribution agreements for selected programs delivered on behalf of her department.

Even before the response was tabled on September 26, several corrective actions dealing with how proposals are submitted by the voluntary sector have been instituted in a spirit of true partnership.

Our government has committed to creating a relationship of trust with all our partners who provide employment programs and other related programs and services throughout the country.

Congratulations on a job well done.