Gurbax Malhi

[Petitions, June 5th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour of presenting the following petition.

The petitioners pray and request that Parliament amend the Criminal Code of Canada to set the age of consent at 18 so as provide protection from exploitation and abuses. There are close to 1,000 signatures.

[Human Rights, June 4th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the 12th anniversary of the senseless and brutal attack by the Indian army on Sikh region's holiest shrine, the Golden Temple at Amritsar and 37 other places of worship. The attack resulted in the deaths of many innocent worshippers.

It would be timely for the new Indian government to apologize for the massacre. More recent examples of human rights abuses include the mysterious disappearance of prominent human rights activists, including Mr. Jaswant Singh Khalra.

I invite colleagues to view the photo exhibition in the Commonwealth Room from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. organized by the following Sikh temples: Dixie Road, Malton, Scarborough, Pape Road, Hamilton, Oakville, Nanak Centre, Rexdale, Weston, Baba Budaji, Guelph, Kitchener, Windsor, London, Lachine and Montreal, Quebec, and the local Ottawa Sikh society.

[Dangerous Offenders, May 28th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on the motion as it affords me the chance to reflect on the many ways in which this government has managed to tighten up law enforcement in Canada.

As mentioned in the red book, the government is working to ensure both safe homes and safe streets.

Bill C-41, an act to amend the Criminal Code, received royal assent on July 13, 1995. It provides, for the first time, a statement of the principles and purposes of sentencing in the Canadian criminal law, a first in Canadian legal history.

The act provides a balanced approach that takes into account both the public's need for safety and the needs of the victim. It is

also in line with the principle that serious offenders should be treated differently than minor first time offenders.

In order to deal with the rising tide of hate crime, the act also provides that those who commit crimes motivated by hatred will receive a greater sentence.

The act also includes provisions to assist victims of crime by strengthening the process for awarding and enforcing restitution to victims.

As well, it provides the courts with more options to distinguish between violent, serious crimes that require jail and non-violent, less serious crimes that can be dealt with better by the local community.

With regard to the issue of youth justice, the House will recall that amendments to the Young Offenders Act contained in Bill C-37, came into force on December 1, 1995.

The amendments, which include provisions to deal more effectively with violent young offenders, complete the first part of a two-part strategy by the government to reform the youth justice system. The amended act includes improved measures for sharing information among school officials, police and selected members of the public where there is a concern about the safety of other persons. As well, police will now be able to keep, indefinitely, the records of young offenders convicted of the most serious crimes.

In addition, the amended act deals more strictly with the most serious violent offences by creating longer maximum sentences for those convicted of murder in youth court.

It also means that 16 and 17-year-olds charged with the most serious personal injury offences will be processed in adult court unless they are able to demonstrate that public protection and rehabilitation can be achieved by remaining in youth court.

I strongly believe that young people should be held accountable under the Young Offenders Act in a manner appropriate to their age and level of maturity. For that reason, I am pleased that the act provides for the consideration of victim impact statements in deciding on the correct response to offending behaviour. The chief goal must always be to discourage future re-offending by a young person.

By the way, a few weeks ago a group of law enforcement officers from my riding, representing various police departments, asked for my support for the establishment of a national DNA data bank. It is, therefore, my pleasure to mention that later in 1996, the Solicitor General of Canada plans to table in Parliament legislation providing for a national DNA data bank and the accreditation of laboratories conducting DNA analysis.

Also members will recall that Bill C-104 was adopted by Parliament in June 1995 and received royal assent on July 13, 1995. It provides for the first time in Canadian criminal law a clear and express basis on which police can seek warrants to take bodily samples from suspects for DNA testing. The changes help bring Canada in line with other industrialized countries and provide a reliable scientific basis for criminal proof or establishing innocence.

I know that the police in my riding of Bramalea-Gore-Malton have joined law enforcement officers across the country in welcoming this powerful investigative tool which has already resulted in convictions.

I am also pleased to note that the Minister of Justice and the Solicitor General of Canada are developing a comprehensive strategy for dealing with those convicted individuals who pose a high risk to society of committing serious personal injury offences when released. These proposals are expected to be before the House within the next few weeks.

The government is also examining the creation of a new category of serious offender, called a long term offender, which would permit courts to add periods of supervision of up to 10 years to the sentence of this category of offender.

As well, the government will be changing existing dangerous offender provisions to permit the court to designate an offender as a dangerous offender up to six months after sentencing. At present it is necessary for such a designation to be made at the time of sentencing.

I understand that the Ministry of Justice intends to extend existing peace bond provisions in the Criminal Code to permit a court to restrict the activities of those who may pose a risk of violent behaviour.

In addition, existing dangerous offender provisions in the Criminal Code, when applied, can result in an offender being incarcerated for the rest of his or her life. This is much stricter than the three strikes and you are out system in use in the United States.

In short, as all the examples I have cited demonstrate, no government in Canadian history has done more to crack down on crime and criminals than the present one.

[Petitions, May 15th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the honour to present a petition.

The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the fact that the amount of unsolicited direct mail or junk mail sent to private residences across the country is on the rise. Therefore the petitioners pray and request that Parliament ask Canada Post Corporation to change its guidelines so as to reduce junk mail.

[Petitions, May 13th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour of presenting two petitions.

In the first petition the petitioners pray that Parliament not amend any act or code to include sexual orientation as a prohibited grounds of discrimination.

In the second petition the petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships

or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

[Temporary Employment, May 13th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify recent statements I made on temporary employment.

Lately I have talked with the heads of several very fine temporary service firms. I wish to salute these fine honest firms, many of which are proud members of the Federation of Temporary Help Services.

Over the years this industry has developed a strong code of ethics and standards, to the point where today's legitimate operators display a high degree of professionalism. For instance, no portion of a temporary worker's wage is held by recognized temporary service firms which pay fair hourly wages, offer full statutory benefits and often provide job specific training.

As well, reputable temporary service firms do not charge a sign up fee to employers.

[Vaisakhi, April 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today in honour of Vaisakhi, the 297th birthday of the Sikh nation, which is being celebrated around the world.

Sikhs have been living in Canada for almost a century, and over 240,000 Sikhs participate in every facet of Canadian life. Sikhs are peace loving people who have made a valuable contribution in various fields, including professional and political spheres, as my presence here today illustrates. Sikhs believe in justice and the protection of human rights for all people regardless of colour, creed, sex or origin.

I hope fellow members of Parliament will join me in wishing Sikhs across Canada a happy Vaisakhi by accepting my invitation to a reception in the Commonwealth Room following question period.

[Gasoline Prices, April 17th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, gasoline prices in the region recently soared to their highest level since the gulf war. The average price in Ontario last

Friday was over 58 cents per litre. That amounts to an increase in just one week of as much as three cents a litre.

No doubt an unusually cold winter and low inventory at refineries are contributing to the price hike. Yet most of the price fluctuation at the pumps seems to have little to do with the wholesale price of gasoline.

Even though there was no increase in gas taxes in last month's budget, the price of gas is rising out of control. We must do something to stop it.

[The Budget, April 16th, 1996]

Madam Speaker, since being elected to the House of Commons in 1993 I have never forgotten that a nation is not made up of mere facts and figures but of real people, both young and old. So it follows that one key to a healthy country is to create opportunities for a group like Canada's youth. In fact, in terms of jobs and growth, the government's budget appears focused on youth.

It was announced for instance that federal funding for student summer jobs would be doubled and that the new Canada technology partnerships program would boost key sectors. It was also announced that jobs for youth would be a high priority and aimed

at doubling the number of federal summer jobs for students. Furthermore the government challenged other levels of government and the private sector to do likewise. As well, it was announced that this government will work with the provinces and the private sector to enhance youth job opportunities and help create new approaches for first jobs.

My own recognition of the need to create lasting jobs for young Canadians as opposed to only so-called "Mc jobs" can be seen by a petition I have sponsored in support of better working conditions for temporary workers.

It goes without saying that all job seekers are looking for employment that offers an income sufficient to live in a dignified fashion. Unfortunately many of them have grown discouraged by the shortage of jobs currently posted in Canada employment centres and are turning to temporary employment agencies for short term contract work.

Obviously these temporary help agencies are providing a much needed service by supplying employers with workers, but such so-called private temporary help services do not come cheap. By insisting on a portion of each worker's hourly wage and demanding compensation from employers as well, these agencies illustrate the need for government to encourage the growth of more enduring jobs.

That is why I hope to encourage a growing number of employers, including the various levels of government, to post their job openings, be they temporary or permanent, free of cost in Canada employment centres. I am inviting all businesses in my riding to let me know why some of them currently prefer to satisfy their manpower needs through costly private temporary help agencies as opposed to Canada employment centres.

If our current centres are failing to satisfy the requirements of employers, then it stands to reason they will prove unable to meet the needs of our unemployed. If so, let us learn to offer the kind of services both require. Unless we do, we might just as well close down all federal centres and turn the entire industry over to the private sector.

The throne speech also recognized that young Canadians should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. To help them cope with the rising cost of post-secondary education, the government announced it would increase education credits for tax purposes and raise limits on the transfers to parents for education and tuition credits.

On top of current funding for programs such as youth internship Canada and youth services Canada, the Liberal government announced it would reallocate $315 million to create new jobs for youth. Of this funding, $120 million is slated to go toward student summer jobs in 1996-97, doubling last year's federal contribution. Some of the $315 million will go to help find work for youth who have left school.

For my part, this spring I followed the lead of the government and devoted a full page of my latest householder to promoting the student summer job action program. A key ingredient of this innovative program is the many Canada employment centres for students located on various academic campuses across the country.

These offices help thousands of Canadian employers each spring to hire students talented in every type of job imaginable. Whether your business or home needs full time, part time or odd help, Canada employment centres for students are the place to turn to. Anyone interested in using the student summer job action program can call the new youth action line at 1-800-935-5555.

What about the young people for whom these programs are designed to help, the real people behind the facts and figures? As they shield their eyes with Ray-Ban sun-glasses and their ears with Sony walkmen, many youth across Canada are busy working as bicycle messengers, pizza drivers, yard workers, Wal-Mart employees and Mc-jobbers in today's low wage, low benefit service economy. They are the wandering nomads of the temporary employment world. In school they are a group of staggering diversity, not just in ethnicity but also in attitude, performance and rewards. After graduation they dream of graduating into jobs and moving out of their parents' house.

Many youths realize that some members of their generation may be the first to do less well than their parents. Fortunately they are also better equipped than my generation was to deal with the kinds of rapid change society is now facing. After all, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Canada's children went from a family culture of "My Three Sons" to one of "My Two Dads". Yet we often see these same young men and women at the mall buying groceries for busy moms and dads. If anything, they are survivors.

I myself am the father of two fine young people, a 20-year old son and a 15-year old daughter. It is on behalf of them and their generation that I dedicate this government's efforts at debt reduction and job creation. In last month's budget this government has shown its unwavering commitment to securing Canada's future by creating opportunities for a group that at times has felt disenfranchised: our youth.

[Canada Post, March 29th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the amount of direct mail or junk mail sent through Canada Post appears to be increasing at a frightening rate.

A 500-unit condominium in my riding estimates that it receives 25,000 pounds of direct mail annually, 95 per cent of which, it claims, is tossed into recycling bins.

Though this practice may generate significant revenue for Canada Post, we should look at ways of reducing such wastage in order to become a more environment-friendly nation.