Hon. Jacques Olivier (Minister of State (Fitness and Amateur Sport)):

Mr. Speaker, I fail to understand the Hon. Member since Canadians are all in favour of Commonwealth Games, Canada Games, Pan-American Games or Olympic Games. But Hon. Members opposite always speak out against providing funds for amateur athletes. Those people deserve more respect, much more respect. We have assumed our responsibilities, Mr. Speaker, and we have set up programs for our athletes, the best in North America, because all we want is to encourage them to make a name for themselves on the international scene. We need money to do that, Mr. Speaker. Members opposite are first when it comes to denying the fact that a Canadian Government anxious to promote international competition has the right to seek funds willingly given by people who respect a law passed by the Canadian Government. That is one field where you rank first.

Hon. Jacques Olivier (Minister of State (Fitness and Amateur Sport)):

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian people are going to understand that, considering the really insidious approach taken by the provinces ... it is difficult in an area where there

Oral Questions

is so much competition, where the provinces have almost doubled their marketing expenditures just to deprive people of their income because they agreed to sell tickets for us, you will understand that Canadians are going to be much smarter than the Progressive Conservatives. They will understand that we cannot give out figures just like that, in public, which would provide ammunition for our competitors who want to destroy the sports pool. That is the real reason, because we believe in amateur sport, and we believe we must help the Calgary Games.

Mr. Speaker, that is why Canadians are going to realize that in an area as competitive as this one, where the provinces, through their lotteries, are spending millions and millions of dollars to counter the sports pool and the federal Government's efforts to help amateur sport in Canada ... Canadians will, in due time, pass judgment on Opposition Members who do not want us to help the people in Calgary or amateur sport or medical research or arts and culture.

Canadians are going to understand, and if you do not understand, I suggest you do something about it.

Hon. Jacques Olivier (Minister of State (Fitness and Amateur Sport)):

Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that we were one of the first Governments to endorse Calgary's bid to host the 1988 Olympic Games. We were the first Government to make a $200 million public commitment on behalf of the Calgary Olympic Games and, along with the residents of that city, we promised that the 1988 Olympic Games will be a success on the national and international scenes. What I fail to understand is that people who hail from Calgary and western Canada are trying to discredit that source of revenue and simply do not want any national Government to promote the Calgary Olympic Games. That I cannot understand. What I do understand, however, is that the media have launched a petty political campaign against Calgary and the people of western Canada.

June 13, 1984

Mr. Olivier:

-You will see for yourself that it is not a lottery, it is a sports pool and it is harder to do.

June 13, 1984

Oral Questions

Mr. Olivier:

-believe in the Olympics! We, Mr. Speaker, believe in amateur sport! We believe in medical research! As for the Hon. Members opposite, they are indulging in a lot of rhetoric to destroy the credibility of a Corporation-In any case, I would invite the Hon. Member to read the Corporation's press release. The Corporation says quite clearly how employees were hired and how contracts were signed. The Hon. Member was afraid of referring to it.