Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, we have just learned that the government wasted another $7.5 million in its ill-conceived mismanagement of the portrait gallery. The portrait gallery file is another example of the financial incompetence of the government. This partisan approach to culture has wasted millions of taxpayers' dollars with no portrait gallery to show for it.

When will the government get back on track, create jobs and help tourism, by building a portrait gallery right here in Ottawa?

Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, we are currently living in challenging economic times. Unfortunately, the minister had to withdraw a process that had been set in place on the portrait gallery, but it is something that we look to revisit at some point in the future.

Having said that, the member of the NDP is asking about support for arts and culture and heritage. I have to wonder why those members are missing in action on an action plan that would put $530 million into arts and culture in Canada. Why is the NDP voting against that? Why are those members holding up a budget that would support heritage, and arts and culture in this country?