Debates of Feb. 27th, 2002
House of Commons Hansard #150 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was china.
Topics
- Canadian Music Week
- Mattie McCullough
- 2002 Winter Olympics
- Justice
- Film Industry
- Kim St-Pierre
- Medical Hall of Fame
- Harry Rankin
- Canadian Wheat Board
- Guaranteed Income Supplement
- Taxation
- Kyoto Protocol
- Softwood Lumber
- The Environment
- Guaranteed Income Supplement
- Minister of National Defence
- National Defence
- Lumber Industry
- Equalization Payments
- Airline Industry
- Access to Information
- Fishing Industry
- Taxation
- Kyoto Protocol
- Gun Registry
- Zimbabwe
- Mirabel Airport
- Immigration
- Taxation
- Justice
- Economic Development
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Government Contracts
- Justice
- Middle East
- Social Programs
- Presence in Gallery
- Business of the House
- Employment Equity Act
- Canadian Wheat Board
- Government Response to Petitions
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Committees of the House
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act
- Allotted Day Motion
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Question No. 103—
- Question No. 106—
- Motions for Papers
- Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act
- Refugees
Immigration
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Chuck Cadman Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, in 1991 Ranjit Gill, who is not a Canadian citizen, was convicted of committing a murder in Canada. A deportation order was issued immediately and immigration assured his victim's family that he would be sent packing as soon as he got parole. In 1998 they were told his appeal of the order had been dismissed. In early 2000 documents indicated that all avenues of appeal had been exhausted. He was paroled in early 2001 and remains in Canada to this day.
I will not ask the minister to comment on this case. I just want to know why it is so difficult to rid this country of violent criminals.
Immigration
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bourassa
Québec
Liberal
Denis Coderre Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, of course I will not comment on personal cases, but I am very troubled about those kinds of situations. That is why, through Bill C-11 and regulations, we will have better tools to prevent those kinds of situations.
Immigration
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Chuck Cadman Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, not only does it seem we cannot get rid of these criminals, it seems as though we welcome them with open arms to boot. Tafari Rennock, a career criminal, was deported from the United States about two years ago. Last summer he was caught here illegally and filed a refugee claim while in custody. Apparently the Immigration Review Board was so impressed with his resumé, which included sexual assault, drug trafficking and robbery, that it accepted his claim.
Would the minister please explain how a known criminal entering Canada illegally from a safe country and in custody can be accepted as a refugee claimant?
Immigration
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bourassa
Québec
Liberal
Denis Coderre Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I hope that the hon. member does not believe that anyone here is in favour of treating people's security lightly. In my opinion, the new law is a good one, and the regulations are well done also. I know that there is no political partisanship behind his question. Everyone shares the same opinion: we must ensure our society is safe, and that is what we are going to do.
Taxation
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
Claude Duplain Portneuf, QC
Mr. Speaker, people in Quebec and in my riding have a question, and today I would like to share it with the Minister of Finance.
Quebecers who invest in the FTQ's Fonds de solidarité RRSP obtain a tax credit not only from the government of Quebec, but also from the Government of Canada.
Can the Minister of Finance give the House an idea of the amount of this tax credit for the Fonds de solidarité RRSP?
Taxation
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
LaSalle—Émard
Québec
Liberal
Paul Martin Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, at the end of 2001, labour-sponsored venture capital corporations had close to $8.4 billion in assets.
The cost of the credit for the government is estimated at $260 million for the year 2000 alone. That would be approximately 40% for Quebec's Fonds de solidarité.
I thank the member for Portneuf for his question, as it demonstrates the extent to which the Government of Canada is a partner in job creation in Quebec.
Justice
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Larry Spencer Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, approximately 50,000 children endured the terrible experience of parental divorce last year. Over three years have gone by since the special joint committee on child custody and access released its report called “For the Sake of the Children”.
The joint report proposed changes to the Divorce Act, but after years of costly inquiries and hundreds of witness submissions, we have nothing but a fading promise from the former minister of justice and continued stalling from the new Minister of Justice.
Why is the minister forsaking the children?
Justice
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Outremont
Québec
Liberal
Martin Cauchon Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we will proceed this May to issue new guidelines in regard to custody and access. As well, we are working with the provinces and territories to review the possibility of proceeding with some reform to the legislation. Our standpoint will always be in the best interests of the children.
Economic Development
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bloc
Pierrette Venne Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that the government is closing down the Saint-Hubert South Shore Technobase in the next few weeks.
Will the government launch in the coming weeks an inquiry into the operations of Technobase to determine why the money that was invested did not produce any results, and particularly, how this money was used?
Economic Development
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Beauce
Québec
Liberal
Claude Drouin Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)
Mr. Speaker, as I already mentioned in the House, two $7 million funds created between 500 and 600 jobs.
If the member wants an inquiry to expose the good results, we are open to the idea.
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Bill Casey Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Mr. Speaker, a few years ago the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development assured the House that any attempt to relocate the regional office of Indian affairs from Amherst would only be considered on the condition that native chiefs approved it. The chiefs then voted on the proposal to relocate the regional office and the vote of the chiefs was respected. They voted no and it was not moved.
Now the bureaucrats are at it again. Is it the minister's intention to still respect the vote of the first nations and not relocate the Atlantic regional office?
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Kenora—Rainy River
Ontario
Liberal
Bob Nault Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, the member knows full well that we asked for a report by an independent consultant to look at the efficiencies of the regional office in Amherst in the Atlantic province. That report has not been received and no decisions have been made at this point.
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Liberal
David Pratt Nepean—Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, earlier today I had the pleasure to join the Minister of Public Works and Government Services at the awarding of a major contract in my riding to xwave Solutions Inc. Could the minister provide the House with some information as to what sort of services the company will provide?
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Glengarry—Prescott—Russell
Ontario
Liberal
Don Boudria Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, indeed I had the opportunity this morning to be with the excellent member for Nepean--Carleton in his constituency to announce a $32 million competitive contract to xwave Solutions Inc. to modernize the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency information system.
This is a part of the government online initiative. It is a great thing for the industry and it is a fantastic thing for all Canadians.
Justice
Oral Question Period
February 27th, 2002 / 3 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Larry Spencer Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, at the rate the government moves, the children will be adults before anything happens. Canadians are glad to hear that the minister appears to be willing to put down legislation. However, everyone is concerned that the government's bad habit of ignoring committee recommendations will once again raise its ugly head.
Would the minister commit to legislation adopting the recommendations in the report “For the Sake of the Children”?