House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1993, with 54% of the vote.
Burundi June 3rd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister for International Cooperation.
The political situation in Burundi has been steadily deteriorating these last few months and anarchy is slowly taking over. This is having a destabilizing effect on the whole region of the African great lakes.
What does the minister intend to do to contribute to a peace process for Burundi?
Central America May 17th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, yesterday Canadians witnessed a closing chapter in the history of Central America where all but one of the civil conflicts have come to an end.
Yesterday Central American leaders gathered at the Canadian peacekeeping monument to pay tribute to those Canadians who served in UN missions in the region. That the ceremony was organized at the request of the Central American leaders illustrates the close relations among our countries.
What we all celebrated was the seed of hope that these UN missions have helped plant in Central America. It demonstrated the courage and dedication of ordinary Canadians who have willingly offered themselves to support Central America.
Canadians and Central Americans will continue to work together to demonstrate that peace and the protection of human rights are achievable in all regions of the world.
Canadian Human Rights Act May 7th, 1996
I have been given assurance that churches, religious schools and other religious organizations are not within federal jurisdiction so this bill does not affect them.
This has been one of the toughest decisions I have had to make in my political career. I want everyone to respect why I made that decision because I respect everyone else's decision here. I was disgusted that as soon as this legislation passed, gays and lesbians lobbied on the Hill because the Prime Minister gave Liberal members a free vote. That was disgusting. They want me to respect their rights, but they will not respect my rights of a free vote. I found that very disgusting.
I am sorry to end on that note but sometimes these minority groups push a little too far and if they do there is going to be a public backlash.
Canadian Human Rights Act May 7th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the movers of the first group of motions, the hon. members for Edmonton Southwest, Hamilton-Wentworth, Mississauga East, and Scarborough West. I also congratulate other members who have moved amendments in the other groups.
That there are so many amendments demonstrates the dilemma many in the House are having with the bill. I must confess that when the bill was first discussed and introduced I was not only opposed, I was violently opposed. Why? Not because of the protection for Canadians who have a different sexual orientation from mine. That part I support wholeheartedly. The difficulty I have is what will be the consequences of this piece of legislation. Will it destroy the definition of family? Will it destroy what this country was built on, strong family values?
That is what these amendments are trying to portray. Once the family unit starts falling apart, society is weakened. When society is weakened, the country is weakened. We will no longer be identified by the United Nations as the best country in the world if we destroy the basic unit, the family.
Why did I make a flip-flop? Sometimes politicians are afraid to admit when they make a flip-flop. I made a flip-flop after searching my soul, after searching my conscience. I changed my position because of what the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice promised. I and other members were after some preamble which would protect the traditional family.
I am pleased the Minister of Justice built into Bill C-33 the preamble:
AND WHEREAS the Government recognizes and affirms the importance of family as the foundation of Canadian society and that nothing in this Act alters its fundamental role in society;
If future courts would honour and respect that, we have a win-win situation. We have a win situation for gays and lesbians, as they hopefully will not be discriminated against as far as getting a job with agencies and companies regulated by the federal government, and a win situation for protecting the family. I do not think we have seen many pieces of legislation where protecting the traditional family is built right into the legislation.
I have had more faxes, calls, letters, individual representations on this issue than I have had on any other issue in my 12 years as a member of Parliament. The representations are running probably 80 per cent to 90 per cent for me to vote against this legislation.
What do I do? Do I listen to these representations? When it comes to human rights issues, if I listen to the majority representations then no minority group would ever be protected. I am not lobbied by the Prime Minister. I have received no pressure from the Prime Minister on how I should vote. I have had no pressure from the Minister of Justice. I have a lot of pressure from the community. However, I have to stand up in the House and say what is best for the future of the country, short term and long term.
The Prime Minister and the minister have answered many of the concerns I had, the same concerns the member for Wild Rose mentioned in this speech. The first concern was will this amendment not lead to benefits for same sex partners. I am assured this amendment will not extend same sex benefits to partners of gays and lesbians.
Another concern is will this legislation not give special rights or benefits to gays and lesbians. Again I am assured that no one could credibly argue that federal and provincial human rights legislation now confers special rights on Catholics, on husbands or on those with disabilities. Although each of those characteristics is now expressly covered by the existing statute, it is obvious no such special rights are conferred. It would be no different for sexual orientation. The amendment will prohibit discrimination in areas of federal jurisdiction, including employment and access to goods and services.
Many of my friends sitting in the House on all sides were concerned that this will change the definition of marriage, family and spouse. That is why I welcome these amendments. I think that is the protection these people want. Again, I am told that no changes to the definition of marriage, family or spouse are planned or necessary as a result of this amendment.
Another concern I had is will this legislation lead to adoption by same sex couples. My family has been blessed with an adopted daughter, and so this one is very dear to my heart. Again, I am assured that matters such as adoption are primarily under provincial jurisdiction. This amendment deals with discrimination in employment, accommodation and provision of services, and nothing else. I hope future courts will read the debates the House has held on this topic.
Another concern is will this legalize pedophilia. My community has been shattered because a pedophile from B.C. was too dangerous to be housed in British Columbia. So where is he dumped? In Parkdale-High Park in a federal correctional institution that has 50 beds for hard core criminals, including sex offenders and pedophiles.
In the greater Toronto area there are 118 such dangerous offenders who are being rehabilitated back into the community.
That is what we have to do but it is unfair for Parkdale-High Park to have to take 40 per cent of these dangerous offenders. However, that is another issue which I will be pushing in another forum.
Will this legislation mean that the government will have to amend 40 or 50 other federal statutes? I am told this bill does not deal with benefits for same sex partners. No other changes to federal legislation are planned or necessary as a result of this amendment to the Canadian Human Rights Act. My concern is that these same sex benefits have already crept in but not through this legislation. They have crept in through collective bargaining agreements. I would recommend to all the churches and individuals who are lobbying members that it is time that they started lobbying the labour unions who are signing these collective agreements. Once it is in the collective agreement even the courts cannot overrule it.
A dangerous precedent has already been made when the public servants signed an agreement with Treasury Board. Anyone working in the foreign service, if a partner of same sex passes away, that partner gets all moving expenses covered to return to Canada. It is not this legislation that brought that in. Same sex benefits are already creeping in and from where? Through the collective agreements.
To all the churches, to all the individuals who have been lobbying me and others, maybe it is time to start lobbying the labour unions.
Will this amendment mean the churches and religious schools will now be forced to hire gays and lesbians as teachers even if that is contrary to their-
Justice May 2nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the justice minister.
People in my riding are outraged about the placement of a convicted dangerous sex offender at Keele Street Correctional Centre. The public is justifiably concerned about the safety of their families.
In the platform book and in the throne speech the government made commitments for greater security for our communities. When can my constituents and other concerned Canadians expect tougher legislation for dangerous sex offenders?
Privilege April 24th, 1996
The Reform Party which promised to bring decorum to this place should listen to my motion: I give notice that whereas the hon. member for Beaver River did show contempt of Parliament with her misbehaviour during question period April 24, 1996, by throwing a book onto the floor of the House of Commons, I move:
That the hon. member for Beaver River appear at the Bar to purge the contempt and promise better conduct in the future.
Privilege April 24th, 1996
Members of the Reform Party are laughing. This is the party that promised to bring decorum into the House of Commons. This is how they are doing it. They are ridiculing the orders of this House. They are ridiculing the authority of Beauchesne.
Hundreds of students were sitting in the gallery today watching question period. Hopefully, some of them will be sitting in these seats. We cannot allow the kind of behaviour displayed by the hon. member for Beaver River.
As members of Parliament we have to control our tempers. I know that debates get heated. But the next book could be thrown at you, Mr. Speaker. The next book could be thrown at someone on this side of the House.
Privilege April 24th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 48(1). I am using the authority of Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms , sixth edition, citations 114 following. My question of privilege refers to the book throwing incident during question period by the hon. member for Beaver River.
Why do I raise this? Because this is a deliberate contempt of Parliament. Viewers were watching this on television.
Privilege April 24th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, a point of order. Through a Page I sent you a notice that I wished to raise a question of privilege arising from today's question period. I also gave notice to the hon. member who was involved in the question of privilege.
Dangerous Offenders April 22nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, last Thursday I attended a public meeting in my riding of Parkdale-High Park regarding the placement of pedophile Bobby Oatway in the Keele Street Correctional Centre.
Oatway, a third term federal offender sentenced 10 years for sexual assaults including rape, indecent assault, buggery and bestiality, was brought into our community from British Columbia with no prior consultation with the Citizens Advisory Committee. In fact there was no knowledge of his relocation from B.C. to our community until after his placement.
My constituents are enraged that this individual who has committed atrocious crimes against young children has been placed in a minimum security facility that is close to five elementary schools. Like any parent in this House given similar circumstances, these parents are concerned about their children's safety and the potential denial of these children's basic right to life.
My constituents will continue to hold rallies every Thursday at the facility until there is action from all levels of government to ensure the safety of their children.