Ms. Colleen Beaumier

Mr. Chair, please let me ask the minister for an answer one more time. The department's 2007-08 plans and priorities say that its mandate is to “mainstream multiculturalism into the day-to-day operations of the Department”.

I will try this question. Canadian Heritage is planning to “mainstream multiculturalism”. Once that happens, will the multiculturalism program exist as an independent program and receive funding directly, yes or no?

Ms. Colleen Beaumier

Mr. Chair, I would say that answer means no, so I see that the Reform and the Alliance policies live on.

Many NGOs that approached me in fear that they would not receive funding for anti-racism programs finally received their funding on March 28, two days before the end of the fiscal year. That is not much time in which to spend the money. Was that a deliberate attempt to cut back this programming?

Ms. Colleen Beaumier

Mr. Chair, just for the minister's information, her department's own financial summary indicates zero. Where is the departmental steering committee on multiculturalism, who is on it and what is its mandate?

Ms. Colleen Beaumier

Mr. Chair, once again I did not get my question answered, and I do know who these people are.

I have to say that “mainstream” sounds to me like a euphemism for “eliminate”. Does this minister not believe that Canada's multiculturalism program should receive federal funding on its own, yes or no?

Ms. Colleen Beaumier (Brampton West, Lib.)

Mr. Chair, I want to know how much new funding the government has allocated for multiculturalism programs intended to promote intercultural understanding in 2006 to 2009.