House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2015, with 33% of the vote.
Public Safety December 12th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely false. Our government does not condone the use of torture and certainly does not engage in it.
The primary responsibility of Canadian security agencies is to protect Canadian life and property. If we do get a tip from any source that Canadians' lives are in danger, we will act to save those lives, and we will continue to ensure that intelligence is reviewed and assessed by Canadian intelligence experts before it is acted upon.
Correctional Service of Canada December 12th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the member knows well that administrative segregation is a common practice in many western countries, not just in Canada.
Having said that, I again want to speak for a moment about the mental health action plan for federal offenders, which is a five-pillar strategy. As part of that strategy, and we saw this earlier this week, is a two-bed memorandum of understanding between Correctional Service of Canada and a local facility. Two in-patient beds are be available for people with the most serious mental needs in women's penitentiaries. That is in addition to the 32 that are already across Canada, including Saskatchewan and Quebec.
Correctional Service of Canada December 12th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier in question period, this case is indeed a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Smith family.
The question that has been asked is what the government has done. We have implemented more than half of the recommendations from that coroner's report. In fact, we are going through many of the other recommendations and looking at up to three-quarters of them at this very moment.
However, what our government did earlier this year was launch a mental health action plan for federal offenders, which includes action on timely assessment, effective management, sound intervention, ongoing training, and robust governance and oversight.
Correctional Service Canada December 12th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, administrative segregation is a common practice that is used in many western countries, not just here in Canada.
I would like to speak again about the mental health action plan for federal offenders.
It is a five-pillar strategy that was introduced earlier this year. It actually builds on our strong record in the Conservative government of ensuring faster mental health assessment, which is critical, as well as improved staff training and extended psychological counselling.
Correctional Service Canada December 12th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, what happened in this case was in fact a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the Smith family in this instance.
To answer the opposition's question, the government has actually already implemented over half of the recommendations in the coroner's report. We stand very proud on that particular record.
In fact, earlier this year, our government launched a mental health action plan for federal offenders that includes action on timely assessment, effective management, sound intervention, ongoing training, and robust government oversight.
Justice December 11th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, Omar Ahmed Khadr pleaded guilty to heinous crimes, including the murder of American army medic Sgt. Christopher Speer.
This Conservative government has vigorously defended against any attempt to lessen his punishment for these crimes. That is why the Government of Canada is ensuring that he stays in federal prison, where he belongs. We do not agree that a youth sentence is appropriate for someone who is seen on video making the same type of improvised explosive devices that killed many of the 158 Canadian Armed Forces members who died in Afghanistan.
I am pleased with the decision of the Supreme Court to hear the government's appeal of the reckless decision to send a terrorist to juvenile detention. While the Liberal leader refused to rule out special compensation for this convicted terrorist and the NDP actively tries to force Canadian taxpayers to compensate him, we on this side believe that victims of crime, not the perpetrators, are the ones who deserve compensation.
Taxation December 9th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the constituents in my riding of Scarborough Centre have spoken loud and clear. They want a government that will put more money into the pockets of hard-working Canadian families. That is precisely what our Conservative government has done and will continue to do with our latest tax cuts.
In fact, every family with children will benefit. That is about 4 million Canadian families. With the expansion of the universal child care benefit, families in Scarborough Centre and right across Canada will receive nearly $2,000 per year for every child under 6, and $720 per year for every child between 6 and 17.
However, the Liberals and NDP have said they will take this money away from moms and dads to pay for expensive and burdensome programs through big government bureaucracy. Only our Conservative government knows that parents, whether they work inside or outside the home, can be trusted to make the right choices for their own families
Drug-Free Prisons Act December 8th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, from listening to the speech by the hon. member across the way, there appears to be a common thread in all the speeches by the NDP. I will get back to that in just a moment.
First, I want to touch base specifically on what the New Democrats said about taking addictions out of prisons. They want to implement a needle exchange program in prisons so that inmates can continue using illegal substances. That does not make sense.
The common thread I have heard is that the bills we put forward in the House are aimed at appealing to our base. Since the Conservatives have taken office in 2006, among all of the other good things that have taken place, serious crime rates have gone down and our communities and families feel safer. If we are appealing to our base, which appears to be law-abiding citizens, I would like to know who the NDP is trying to appeal to.
Drug-Free Prisons Act December 8th, 2014
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member across the way for her speech. However, as I listened to it, I kept hearing the phrase, “It is a tragedy”. It is a tragedy about the prison population. It is a tragedy over double-bunking. It is a tragedy over confinement. I wish the NDP opposition member would actually show that same empathy when it comes to the real victims of crime, the same victims of the individuals who are actually incarcerated in jail because of the crimes they committed.
The question I would ask the member is this: If someone is convicted of a crime, and other members in the house tied that to the fact that many have addiction and alcohol problems, and that individual is still accessing illegal drugs in prison and has tested positive to an illegal substance in his or her system, does the member feel that the individual should be released on parole or kept in jail, because they committed another crime? Is that actually a tragedy as well?
Drug-Free Prisons Act December 8th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, to clarify the record again, the NDP member talks about prison populations exploding, and that is in fact not the case.
That was predicted by many in the media and by the NDP opposition party, and it is absolutely not the case. Again, only the NDP would think it is bad thing that someone who commits a crime actually ends up in jail.
On this side of the House, we believe that if someone commits a serious crime against a person, society, or communities, they should serve appropriate sentences. Our policies are working. Serious crime rates in Canada are down.
I want to ask the member the same question that I asked the Liberal member who spoke previously. The member from the NDP spoke about it, indicating that many who are serving serious time in jail right now are people with addiction and alcohol problems. If this is the case, and people are still getting drugs and alcohol in the prison system, should they be released on parole if they have serious drug or other illicit substances in their blood?
I am asking the member that question because on this side of the House we do not think that is a good idea, especially considering that many of the crimes were committed in conjunction with drug and alcohol problems.