House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2004, with 43% of the vote.
Apec November 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the member will probably know that in the case of Indonesia, the leader of the east Timorese people, Noble Peace prize winner Mr. José Ramos-Horta, last night on the National said: “Canada should welcome Indonesian President Suharto with dignity but also take a hard line on human rights. They can have a face to face dialogue with him, firm but non-confrontational”.
I would submit that is an indication of what we are trying to do.
Apec November 21st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, human rights are very important to this government, as I hope the member knows.
The summit deals with economic issues. We deal on a bilateral issue on human rights issues, as the member knows. The government is helping to sponsor the people's summit which will be dealing with human rights and other issues of concern to the member and all Canadians.
Criminal Code November 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank my hon. colleague from Winnipeg Centre.
Some child experts question the effectiveness of measures such as the one my colleague has just been speaking about, that is banning imports of forced or indentured child labour. The underlying cause of child labour is poverty and the long term solution is to attack poverty. This point came out clearly in the speech of the minister for international development at the Oslo child labour conference last week.
The conference was hosted by the Norwegian government in conjunction with the ILO and UNICEF. It unanimously adopted an agenda for action which appears consistent with our policy on the issue of child labour.
Our efforts are focused on three issues: providing affordable access to primary education particularly for girls; improving the status, role and economic security for women as equal partners in development; and encouraging governments to enforce existing laws governing the employment of children.
Canada is actively supporting the work of the ILO to develop a new convention by 1999 on the most intolerable forms of child labour including bonded labour. Canada is to host a preparatory meeting in Ottawa for principal donor countries that were invited to the Oslo conference.
Within our region, the United States, Mexico and ourselves are examining the child labour and working conditions of young people. Our labour minister spoke at a trilateral conference in Ottawa last month which was attended by over 100 government, labour and NGO representatives.
We also believe that business can play a role that reinforces international action by government response to ethical, environmental and social concerns. A private sector alliance developed an international code of business ethics for firms operating overseas.
Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act October 28th, 1997
moved that Bill C-6, an act to provide for an integrated system of land and water management in the Mackenzie Valley, to establish certain boards for that purpose and to make consequential amendments to other acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Canada-Yukon Oil And Gas Accord Implementation Act October 28th, 1997
moved that Bill C-8, an act respecting an accord between the Governments of Canada and the Yukon Territory relating to the administration and control of and legislative jurisdiction in respect of oil and gas, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Kenya October 27th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore for her serious question.
All Canadians along with the member share concern about the violence that occurred in Kenya and are very anxious, as is the government, that it not occur again.
I was in Nairobi last month where I discussed election issues with a number of officials in the government, including MPs from all parties. There is a basis for hope that the elections when they are held, which must before the end of December, will be violence free and will be free and proper.
Foreign Affairs October 2nd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, about three minutes after I find out, which I will attempt to do right after question period, I will let the opposition know where the passports are.
Foreign Affairs October 2nd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing about this that makes the government reluctant to share with other Canadians what is going on. The government as I said takes the matter very seriously.
The whereabouts at the moment of the passports is not a key issue. The issue is that we are asking our ambassador to come back from Israel to discuss the matter. We have called in the Israeli ambassador here. We are taking the matter very seriously. The physical whereabouts of these two passports at the moment is not a big issue.
Foreign Affairs October 2nd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, like the member from the Conservative Party, I was a crown attorney for many years and we were trained to be very precise in our answers.
The whereabouts of the passports at this moment are not known to myself. It is being determined beyond a reasonable doubt to my knowledge that they are forged passports. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out who had the passports. I am sure that members know. When I find out where the passports are I will let the hon. member from B.C. know as quickly as I can.
Foreign Affairs October 2nd, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the whereabouts of the passports at this point are not known at least to myself. I am going to find that out and report back to the member.
Canadians have seen them and I understand that it is clear that they are forged but we have been asked to make certain that they are forged.
I appreciate that the member's question is otherwise a good one.