CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 141 Ï NUMBER 029 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, May 30, 2006 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1687 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, May 30, 2006 The House met at 10 a.m. in discussions on topics of importance to youth in Canada and other countries in the Commonwealth. Prayers In the final communiqué, released last Friday, the ministers transmitted a message to the Commonwealth heads of government in which they reaffirmed their commitment to youth development and Ï (1000) empowerment as a fundamental Commonwealth goal. They [English] recommended that the Commonwealth heads of government, at their 2007 meeting, endorse the new plan of action for youth PRIVACY COMMISSIONER empowerment. The Speaker: I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the Privacy Commissioner on the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act for the year 2005. That plan provides the framework for all Commonwealth youth development work in the areas of poverty eradication, democracy [Translation] and good governance, HIV-AIDS, and gender equality, topics that Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), this report is deemed to are close to the hearts of all Canadians. have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. [Translation] During the meeting, as Minister for Sport, I held preliminary ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS meetings with 24 Commonwealth delegations, most of which were responsible for sport. Ï (1005) [English] [English] CANADA ELECTIONS ACT Hon. Rob Nicholson (Leader of the Government in the House These bilateral meetings were invaluable in promoting Halifax as of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, CPC) moved the host city for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. I took for leave to introduce Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canada advantage of these meetings to indicate Canada's interest in hosting Elections Act. the Commonwealth Games in 2014, to raise awareness about (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Halifax's bid for the 2014 games, and to solicit support. I was also pleased that Scott Logan, chief executive officer of the Halifax bid, *** was able to accompany me on this trip to assist me in this effort. [Translation] COMMONWEALTH YOUTH Last March I was in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games to support the Halifax bid as well. My presence in Nassau was the Hon. Michael Chong (President of the Queen's Privy Council continuation of my determined efforts and this government's for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister determined efforts to promote Halifax as the host city for the 2014 for Sport, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of representing Commonwealth Games. I hope I can count on the support of all my Canada at the sixth meeting of the Commonwealth youth ministers colleagues in this House to ensure that this bid is successful so that in Nassau, the Bahamas, from May 22 to 26. the beautiful city of Halifax in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia The theme of the meeting was youth empowerment for the in this great country of ours can play host to these very great games. eradication of poverty, crime and violence and HIV/AIDS. [English] [Translation] It provided an opportunity for the Government of Canada to Hon. Albina Guarnieri (Mississauga East—Cooksville, Lib.): demonstrate its commitment to the Commonwealth and to participate Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the minister for his statement. 1688 COMMONS DEBATES May 30, 2006 Routine Proceedings [English] young people everywhere improved. But also the hope that something will be done quickly here at home so that Canadian I would like to thank the minister especially for finding the time in sport “policy” serves some goal other than “the development of the his schedule to journey to the Bahamas to participate in the Canadian sport system to strengthen the unique contribution that Commonwealth conference on youth and to promote the Halifax bid sport makes to Canadian identity, culture and society”. for the Commonwealth Games. Of course, there could be few better places to engage Commonwealth ministers on the challenges of A sport policy does not mean only funding for athletes or visibility youth poverty, crime and the devastation of HIV. for a government, and should not be developed solely on that basis; The Commonwealth is fortunate to have a leader who has been it should rather be directed toward incorporating physical activity focused for half a century on finding promise and potential among and sports into a healthy lifestyle, with the goal of improving quality the perils of youth, a leader who set out on a personal crusade to of life for individuals and communities. create a better world by making the world better one young person at a time. That leader, of course, is the Duke of Edinburgh, with his Sport must therefore be developed within a framework that Duke of Edinburgh awards. reflects the responsibilities and areas of jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces. Quebec must therefore be in charge in this area, an Across the globe, the efforts of this leading Commonwealth area in which, by virtue of its education and public health network, organization have touched the lives of thousands of young people Quebec can and must promote a healthy lifestyle and stress the from every possible background. Projects have given hope to importance of an active life. struggling youth across Africa, turned young men away from the path to prison, released the possible, and set their futures free. In closing, I hope that the 2014 Games, like the 11th FINA World This privately funded group, with its august leadership, has Aquatic Championships held in Montreal last summer and countless achieved where governments have failed and has found hope where other sports events that bring people together, along with the role others have found despair. The breadth of projects, the scope of models provided by the athletes who take part in them with their innovation and the depth of genuine concern that we find in the contagious enthusiasm, will encourage young Quebecers and Duke of Edinburgh's organization should be an inspiration to NGOs Canadians to get involved in a physical activity and incorporate and governments everywhere. the benefits and lessons they gain from that experience into their lives as citizens. I trust that the minister will continue to connect with his new- found colleagues among the Commonwealth ministers for youth and Ï (1015) will agree that the inspiration and success of the Duke of Edinburgh awards needs to be followed by imitation and resources. The [English] Commonwealth needs to match the challenge of youth poverty, Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP): crime and disease with its own commitment to reach young people Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise on behalf of the New Democratic across the ocean with the resources to reach for a better future. Party to speak on the sixth Commonwealth Youth Ministers' meeting Ï (1010) that was recently held in the Bahamas. [Translation] Mr. Luc Malo (Verchères—Les Patriotes, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I The ministers undertook several days of meetings that centred would first like to thank the organizers of the Halifax committee around the themes of youth empowerment for the eradication of bidding for the games, and wish them the best of luck in the selection poverty, crime and HIV-AIDS. process for the 2014 Commonwealth Games host city. Contributing to the development of a group of young athletes who are so Youth, the 15 to 29 year old age group, make up over half the disciplined and passionate about their sport is an honourable goal in population of the Commonwealth. At the meeting, Canada's minister itself. reaffirmed our commitment to youth development through a rights- based approach. In their communiqué to next year's Commonwealth Last year, the United Nations proclaimed 2005 the International heads of government meeting, the ministers at the Bahamas meeting Year of Sport and Physical Education. According to the UN, the committed to promoting the role of young people in national fraternity that comes with playing sports, and the values of sharing development, democracy and good governance. and social interaction associated with playing sports, provide excellent models for young people, and sport can even “contribute These commitments toward youth provide Canada with a unique to [a nation’s] economic and social development, improving health opportunity that I sincerely hope the government will take seriously and personal growth in people of all ages—particularly those of in the years to come. This strategy of empowerment is intended to young people...Sport can also help build a culture of peace and improve the mainstreaming of youth development and empower- tolerance by bringing people together on common ground, crossing ment in all policy-making, planning and program delivery in the national and other boundaries to promote understanding and mutual political, legal, economic and social spheres. respect”. We also believe that the spirit of fraternity that is a necessary Today the minister also spoke, in his role as minister for sport, to outcome of playing sports is indeed a source of hope. The hope that the energy he has devoted to the promotion of the Halifax bid for the harmony can be built among nations, and living conditions for 2014 Commonwealth Games. May 30, 2006 COMMONS DEBATES 1689 Business of Supply There are many benefits to sport development among youth and Ï (1020) other groups with events like these, and there are significant social and cultural benefits.