Debates of Feb. 13th, 1998

Calgary Declaration

[Paul Devillers, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the government has always shown support for the provincial initiative undertaken in the Calgary declaration. The government remains prepared to support it.

The Calgary declaration is a declaration of principles that may or may not lead to constitutional action at a later time. At this point the federal government is happy that the provinces have been working on it. Most provinces are prepared to pass a resolution. We will be waiting to see the final result before taking action.

The Senate

[Val Meredith, Reform, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs stated that Reform's attempt to have an elected Senate would result in gross under-representation of the west in Parliament.

Since British Columbia is already the most under-represented province in both this House and the upper house, will the minister assure British Columbians that this government will take steps to remedy the inequities before the end of this Parliament?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the matter of reforming the Senate is not one for this government alone. It is a matter for Parliament as a whole and the provinces as part of an amendment to the Constitution.

I complete my answer by asking my hon. friend this. If and when the day comes that we propose a change to the Constitution on the Senate, will she undertake on behalf of members of her party that they will not vote against it like they did the last time when the Charlottetown declaration was before Canada?

Drug Licensing

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.

Several drugs used in the treatment of HIV and AIDS have been available in the United States, Europe and South America for more than a year already. But the Health Protection Branch has yet to authorize the marketing of these new drugs, thereby penalizing thousands of infected individuals.

Does the minister realize that, due to the particular inefficiency of the drug licensing process in Canada, thousands of people living with HIV or AIDS are seeing their treatment threatened?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health has the responsibility to ensure that drugs are safe before they are put on the market for use by those who are sick. It is the responsibility of the Government of Canada and we intend to fulfil this responsibility.

At the same time, we are also fully aware of the fact that there are urgent needs to be met. At Health Canada we have procedures in place—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Hochelaga—Maisonneuve.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in September 1996, a parliamentary committee clearly recommended that the minister radically reform the Canadian drug licensing system, which is notoriously inefficient. Why has no action been taken since?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, since the tabling of the report mentioned by the hon. member this morning, we at the health department have made changes to the system to give some people access to the drugs they need. We plan to keep improving this system in the interest of the sick.

Justice

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it has happened again in my community of Abbotsford, British Columbia.

William Gibson Brown was sentenced to 11 years for a violent rape. He got out of prison and then recently sexually assaulted some of our children. He received a conditional sentence, no time in jail on the condition he does not do it again. Yesterday he was back in court again. What for? Molesting a five year old boy.

My question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice. Why does the government refuse to prevent serious sex offenders from receiving conditional sentences, no time in jail?

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, obviously the hon. member describes a tragic case and no member in this House is pleased when they see that happen in the courts.

Conditional sentencing as the minister has said is a new provision. The minister has stated that she and all her provincial counterparts are monitoring closely what is happening in the lower courts.

I refer the hon. member to the attorney general of Alberta who has publicly discouraged the federal government from unilaterally establishing further guidelines for this provision.

As the minister has said in the House, if she has to she will amend the law.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we are sick and tired of this government monitoring these things. This is a legal loophole and we are sick and tired of coming back and forth in this House of Commons on this issue.

A five year old boy has been molested because a judge issued this pervert a conditional sentence after he molested children and raped a woman.

Does this government agree that a repeat rapist, a repeat child molester, should do no time in jail? What about protecting our women and children for a change?

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member's allegations to this part of the House are based on false presumptions. First of all, no member of this House has ever said they are happy with some of the decisions that are rendered.

I would like to repeat what the Minister of Justice has said in this House. She has stressed this. If she has to, she will.

I will quote the attorney general of Alberta, from your province, who said “I like the flexibility in conditional sentencing. As opposed to having”—

[An hon. member]

He is from British Columbia.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

We are sick and tired of this. We want it now.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Order. The parliamentary secretary has the floor. It is difficult for the Chair to hear her response. A member has asked a question, perhaps members might listen to the response.

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice.

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member would please listen, his leader's provincial attorney general said “I like the flexibility in conditional sentencing. As opposed to having the federal government developing some very specific guidelines, we have the courts reacting to the needs of their respective communities across the country”.

I repeat, if we have to we will.

Federal Public Service

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.

One of the requirements—and I say “requirements” advisedly—for employment in the public service within the national capital region is residence there, although this contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Can the President of the Treasury Board tell me which prevails in his department: the Public Service of Canada Act or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely no discussion on that point: the Treasury Board must comply with all of Canada's statutes, including the charter. This is what it tries to do at all times.

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it would appear that officials suggest to candidates that they change their address in order to be eligible for certain positions outside their region.

Does the President of the Treasury Board support this policy over changing the rules for access to the federal public service?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the Treasury Board must clearly implement all laws that apply to its operations.

In the matter at hand, if my hon. colleague believes an impropriety has occurred, I would ask her to send me all the facts so I can see whether the legislation needs to be tightened.

Foreign Affairs

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister had a choice. He had a choice between meeting with Mr. Wei, the father of the democratic movement in China, or to warmly welcome the oppressive communist vice-president of Cuba, Carlos Lage. The prime minister chose to meet Castro's henchman.

How could the government justify this choice by the Prime Minister?

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Wei Jingsheng met with two ministers of the present government and appeared as a witness before the standing committee on foreign affairs.

The vice-president of Cuba came here to sign two treaties with the Canadian government, one of them an anti-hijacking treaty and the other, an air transport agreement.

We will continue our constructive engagement with Cuba. We do not make invidious comparisons. Does the hon. member want us to join Jesse Helms?

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition met with Mr. Wei, the Nobel prize nominee. The Minister of Foreign Affairs snuck Mr. Wei up the backstairs to his MP office. He did not even give him the courtesy of an official meeting.

It is important that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs hear the other side of the human rights issue in China. Why will the government not admit exactly what its choices are?

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, there are no back doors to the foreign ministry. The minister is up front in meeting people. I say again the minister met with Wei Jingsheng—-

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

He met him in his MP office. The Prime Minister was too busy.