House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2004, with 35% of the vote.
Apec Summit September 21st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. It is about the signs at APEC he has been talking about. On November 25, 1997 at the APEC conference, UBC law student Craig Jones was arrested and jailed without charge after he refused to remove signs that said free speech, democracy and human rights.
Does the Prime Minister not agree that this clear violation of free speech and civil rights is contrary to the Canadian way? Should those people not get an apology?
Fisheries June 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the former and present ministers of fisheries have watched the demise of the east coast fishery in Canada to the shame of all Canadians.
Can the minister or the government advise this House of what they are doing differently in British Columbia to make sure we do not have the problem in British Columbia five years from now that we presently have in eastern Canada?
Immigration June 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, a decision of this magnitude has repercussions around the world and undoubtedly leaves every criminal with intent to use Canada as a safe haven with a notion that we are very easy to access.
Will the minister of immigration amend legislation immediately so that this bad decision for Canada can be overturned? Even two of the judges say it is a terrible decision for Canada. When will the minister take action so this drug dealer can be kicked out of Canada like he should be?
Immigration June 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Yesterday there was an unprecedented and bizarre decision. The supreme court overturned a refugee board decision and ruled that a convicted drug dealer cannot be denied a refugee hearing. A dissenting judge said this individual jeopardized the lives, health and welfare of many Canadians.
Does the immigration minister agree with this ruling and if not, what is she going to do about it?
Human Rights June 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the member for Brampton West—Mississauga admonished me, my party and the premier of Ontario for our concern for the safety and human rights of Canadians.
We have misgivings regarding the granting of refugee status to Canada of eight individuals, including a hijacker, currently held in an Israeli jail.
What the member and chair of the subcommittee on human rights neglected to tell the House is that these eight pillars of virtue have been turned down by every other country where they have sought refugee status. What she neglected to tell us is that these eight have been termed a national security risk to the state of Israel.
Charity begins at home and so do human rights and the right to feel safe. Do these eight inspire in anyone a feeling of safety and security for Canadians?
Yesterday I reflected on a picture in my office of Nelson Mandela and me. I will be writing Mr. Mandela a letter of apology in the event that he hears that the member for Brampton West—Mississauga compared him to the group of eight in an Israeli jail. I hope the member will apologize personally to the premier of Ontario for her remarks.
Lieutenant Colonel William Barker June 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, on May 13, I wrote the minister of immigration a letter and on May 14, I asked a question in the House with regard to a gentleman in Vancouver named Mr. Iraz Rezaei who runs an immigration consulting firm and who is facing 18 criminal charges for the way he conducts his business. The charges against Mr. Rezaei are eight counts of forgery with passports, six counts of attempted organized illegal entry into Canada, two counts of counselling false refugee claims, one count of threatening and one count of assault.
When I asked the minister the question in the House her answer was the normal one she gives, that she does not talk about specific details of any individual case. This was not a case. This was an individual breaking the law in Canada and who is now using the Internet to expand his business. He is sort of laughing at us with the negative publicity he is getting. He is saying it has actually increased his business.
The minister also wrote me a letter. Amazingly enough, I received it today. It is dated May 25 but it arrived today. Once again the minister says she will not talk about the case because it is a criminal case, that he is innocent until proven guilty and that they are not going to do anything. As the minister knows, if a lawyer were charged with such offences that lawyer would be suspended during the investigation. Yet this man is allowed to continue doing his business. That is because there is no regulatory body.
The minister's letter states: “You are likely aware that there are currently no regulatory bodies or regulations governing immigration consultants and that CIC officials are currently examining the very complex issue of how best to encourage competency and integrity in persons who represent our clients”, the people who come to Canada as immigrants or refugees. She states: “Officials will be presenting options on how to address this very important issue in the near future”.
The near future is not good enough. We have been looking at the near future in this department for years and years. The minister also said: “I am sure you can understand that, due to Canada's privacy legislation and because the case is before the courts, no further comment would be appropriate”.
The privacy legislation in Canada was not brought in to protect criminals, those who violate the laws of Canada. It is right in the act that for the Canadian good ministers can go around the Privacy Act. Certainly with a gentleman like this, with all these charges against him, with what is happening in his business, with the demand of the people in the city of Vancouver and the province of British Columbia, the minister should give us the full details concerning this case.
While negotiations are going on with the provinces on this issue, the minister should tell Canadians that her department will not deal with immigration consultants, period, until the licensing issue is solved. Let us put them right out of business until they have licences and until there is a body that can govern what they do.
Innocent people are coming to Canada. The federal government immigration office is in downtown Vancouver. That is where people get sworn in to become citizens and where they go for interviews. It is a very nice building with all the typical government signage on it, welcome to Canada. Right across the street is this gentleman's business. It has big signs in every language “free immigration consultant”. We all know he is not in business for free.
I know Vancouver like the back of my hand but there are those just coming to Canada, a strange country for them. A new citizen or a refugee may come to this country and be told at the airport to go downtown. He will see this sign across the street that says free help. Looks nice and warm. It has his own language written on the sign. He will tend to walk in there before he goes in to see those big government guys. They are not used to free governments like ours. They are not used to officials who work to the benefit of those who are trying to come here. They get sucked into this man's office. He is there. He sucks them in. He finds out where their money is and he is making lots of money. It is time the minister acted.
Immigration May 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, of these eight people, one of them is a hijacker and some are spies. These are not normal refugees.
Will the minister assure the House and all Canadians that they will not be accepted in this country?
Immigration May 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Yesterday the minister refused to answer my question concerning the granting of refugee status to a convicted hijacker and seven others currently held in an Israeli jail.
Rather than duck and weave, will the minister today assure this House that she has no intention of granting status to these individuals?
Immigration May 26th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
In view of a recent intelligence report tabled by the solicitor general that concluded Canada has become a haven for every known terrorist group in the world and the solicitor general's promise to clean it up, can the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration guarantee that the eight suspected terrorists in an Israeli jail will not be admitted to Canada?
Hepatitis C May 15th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
He tells us that the meeting went fine yesterday and that everything is moving ahead. We were not there so we have to take his word for it.
Let us listen to what the minister for Ontario says. The Ontario health minister says:
The lack of proposals from Ottawa will frustrate victims and disappoint Canadians.
We came looking for actions and asking the federal government to provide financial assistance to those who were infected with hepatitis C prior to 1986 and we did not get any response.
Will the minister stop attacking the member for Macleod who has brought this issue to Canadians and to where it is today and tell Canadians what their—