Supply  Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to the motion on women's economic autonomy that is currently before the House. I am pleased that my hon. colleague attaches such a high importance to the enhancement of women's economic autonomy, because there is still a great deal that we still must do.

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I want to respond again to the propaganda comment that is being made. Buying freedom. I agree with the hon. member that freedom cannot be bought. But one has to ask oneself about the 1995 Quebec referendum that cost Quebecers $63.5 million, or the pre-referendum public consultations that cost the Government of Quebec $5 million, or the premier's office committing $2 million to the Conseil de la souveraineté in Quebec to promote a yes vote, and the international affairs department signing a $1.2 million advertising campaign with Marketel, is it along those same lines?

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to address the opposition motion concerning the many activities of this government, activities which my colleague across the way has just called propaganda. In his impassioned speech he talked about the money that should have been spent on child poverty and money that should be spent on so many things Canadians need but is being spent on what our hon. colleague considers to be propaganda.

Canadian Multiculturalism Act  Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the annual report on the operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act for 1995-1996. I will be making a statement shortly outlining my vision and the government's new direction for multiculturalism.

Multiculturalism  Mr. Speaker, millions of Canadians are living proof of this nation's commitment to offer opportunity to all of our citizens. It is the role of multiculturalism to ensure that all Canadians can participate fully and actively in the economic, social and political life of this country.

United Nations Universal Declaration Of Human Rights  Madam Speaker, I am honoured to be able to participate in this very special debate to raise awareness of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. My portfolio as Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women deals specifically with human rights, the rights of women and minority groups to have an equal place in the economic, social and political life of this country.

Status Of Women  Mr. Speaker, not only that but the critic also said that she did not think women needed special programs. This is a country in which 90 per cent of families headed by women are poor. This is a country in which one woman is shot every six days. The hon. member does not even understand the status of women in this country.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation  Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage has consistently spoken about the government's commitment to the CBC. Let us not forget that the government continues to fund the CBC to the tune of almost $1 billion. There is $200 million which is going into a production fund and $100 million of that will be used by the CBC for specific programming which will enable local communities to produce Canadian programming, especially in British Columbia.

Multiculturalism  Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. I would like to state that first and foremost, the Race Relations Foundation is in keeping with a red book promise which we made. Second, multiculturalism is not about ethnocultural organizations. Multiculturalism is about how all the peoples of Canada-the aboriginal people, the French, the English and people who have come here from every corner of the globe-learn to live together in mutual respect with social justice and with compassion.

Human Reproductive And Genetic Technologies Act  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support Bill C-47, the Human Reproductive and Genetic Technologies Act, which seeks to preserve the dignity and the sanctity of human reproduction, and the dignity and safety of all. The bill seeks three objectives. Protecting the health and safety of Canadians is one of them.

Status Of Women  Mr. Speaker, this award recognizes a very important day in 1927, a time when five women from Alberta challenged the fact that women could not go to the Senate because they were not considered to be persons. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled against them. They went to London where it was ruled that women were in fact persons.

Racism  Mr. Speaker, I am very glad that the member asked this question because that is the precise thing that we must continue to monitor in programs of multiculturalism. Although we do not have the racial tensions that go on in the United States, there are the same tensions in this country.

Banff National Park  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for an extremely well thought out and well articulated question. As the hon. member knows, on October 7 the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced that she would take immediate steps to implement some of those recommendations. She has put a stop to any new commercial use of lands in Banff National Park.

Women's History Month  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to the House about Women's History Month. Women's History Month was created in 1992 by the federal government to foster greater awareness of the historical contributions of women to our society. The impetus for Women's History Month came from my home province of British Columbia but was soon supported by organizations across the country.

Divorce Act  Madam Speaker, that is an excellent question. Maybe I did not make my point clearly enough. I did not say that the money for child support was not money put in the hands of the non-custodial parent. It was not directed to the custodial parent. It was directed to the child. Of course if the child is a minor then the custodial parent has a duty to use the money in the best interest of the child.