Roxanne James

[Drug-Free Prisons Act, December 8th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I want to set the record straight. In fact, there are programs in place in prisons to deal with addiction and drug problems because of this government. I think it would be hard to argue, even for members opposite, that serious crime in Canada has gone down since we have put in our policies.

What we are doing, which I think Canadians recognize, is ending the revolving door of the Liberal justice system. We are ensuring that people who commit serious crimes actually stay in jail, receive the rehabilitation they require and then are released when it is appropriate. However, we will not release someone back into society that has a serious drug problem.

The purpose of the bill is to ensure that if someone has illegally accessed drugs and has tested positive, that person will not be paroled back into society. Does the member agree that is an important principle, or does he feel that someone who has possibly been in jail because of crimes connected to serious drug use or organized crime should be released when still using?

[Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am going back to my first question with respect to the NDP being able to explain the difference between a bonafide refugee and a failed asylum claimant. I know that the NDP likes to say that people whose claims have been rejected are actually still refugees. These are people who had either fraudulently represented themselves or had not been able to prove that they are refugees in need of Canada's care and have been asked to leave this country. That is incorrect both legally and morally.

Therefore, I ask the member from the NDP this. Can she explain the difference between a bonafide refugee, someone who is in need of Canada's help and will continue to get it and always has, and that of a failed asylum claimant who has been asked to leave this country?

[Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I listened very carefully to that speech, and I just wanted to clarify something with regard to refugee health care. I want to clarify for the record that this Conservative government has always supported health care for bona fide refugees and will continue to do so in the future.

However, I think the opposition party has a bit of trouble with terminology. I wonder if the member from the NDP could explain the difference between a refugee—one who has been deemed by the independent Immigration and Refugee Board or by the UNHCR to be a bona fide refugee and resettled here in Canada—and a failed asylum claimant who has been asked to leave this country.

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first state for the record that what was just said is absolutely false. In fact, this legislation would, for the first time in Canada, impose mandatory training safety courses. That is a first here in Canada and I am very proud that it is this Conservative government that has brought forward that measure.

Additionally, it is important to note that we are making amendments to the Criminal Code to impose bans, prohibitions on anyone convicted of domestic violence, and that includes up to a lifetime ban, which is extremely important in this country.

I am proud to be part of this Conservative government.

[Public Safety, December 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday an individual in Montreal was charged with offences brought in under the Combating Terrorism Act. While I cannot comment on the matter that is currently before the courts, I would like to thank law enforcement for its efforts to keep Canadians safe.

This arrest clearly demonstrates that our approach is effective. I would encourage all members of this House to support our efforts to give national security agencies the tools they need.

[42 Division Community Police Liaison Committee, December 1st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to congratulate 42 Division's Community Police Liaison Committee on its very successful third annual crime prevention conference. This year's theme was the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

I was very pleased to see so many youth in attendance, learning about the issues of peer pressure, addictions and how to make smart choices, as well as to hear from someone who, after making the wrong decisions in life, had turned their life around. It was also inspiring to hear from Canadian Olympic athlete, Ms. Sarah Bonikowsky, on her motivational presentation and her own personal road to success.

The highlight of the evening was congratulating over 30 recipients, made up of students, volunteers, law enforcement and board members, on recognition of their community service.

I hope all members will join me in the House in congratulating 42 Division's Community Police Liaison Committee on a successful conference and its dedication to serving our community in Scarborough by making it a safer place to live, work and play.

[Public Safety, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Medicine Hat for his previous work on the public safety and national security committee

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, known more commonly as the Tamil Tigers, was listed as a terrorist entity by this Conservative government in 2006, and rightly so.

I am shocked that anyone would equate this day dedicated to the glorification of the terrorist group Tamil Tigers to the solemn occasion of Remembrance Day, when we honour our fallen Canadian heroes.

We urge the NDP to stop shopping for votes from terrorist-linked groups and to immediately apologize to veterans and all Canadians for the comments made by the—

[Royal Canadian Mounted Police, November 21st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2013 annual report on the RCMP's Use of the Law Enforcement Justification Provisions.

[Public Safety, November 19th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, our Conservative government is committed to addressing the problem of radicalization to violence. We will continue to take action to keep Canadians safe from radical and violent terrorists. It is why we passed the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act. It is why we passed, at second reading, the protection of Canada from terrorists act yesterday. It is why we passed the Combating Terrorism Act, which makes it an offence to travel abroad to engage in terrorist activities.

In closing, it is important to note that, although the member has brought this topic to the House tonight for debate, she has not supported a single measure that this government has put forward to combat terrorism. Perhaps this may help explain to her constituents why she has now chosen to join the NDP.

[Public Safety, November 19th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Ahuntsic for providing me with this opportunity to highlight our Conservative government's commitment to combatting terrorism.

The government's approach to violent extremism is clearly articulated in this year's public report on the terrorist threat to Canada. I think the member actually referred to that report. In fact, our government has taken strong action to combat radicalization, with this being a key pillar of our counterterrorism strategy.

Additionally, the RCMP has developed a countering violent extremism program, which consists of working with local law enforcement partners to prevent individuals from engaging in terrorist or other criminal activities. The RCMP's countering violent extremism efforts complement our counterterrorism approaches, which are designed to disrupt individuals who have mobilized and are committed to further criminal action.

However, there are in fact many facets to countering terrorism. Our Conservative government has a strong record in this area. We have given law enforcement new tools by making it a crime to go overseas to engage in terrorist activities. We have given authorities tools to strip Canadian citizenship from those who engage in terrorist activities.

In fact, despite what we hear in the House day after day from the opposition, we have increased the funding for our national security agencies, such as the RCMP and CSIS, by one-third since forming government.

Unfortunately, we have not found opposition support for any of our past measures. Most recently in this House we introduced new measures to allow our national security agencies to better track threats to Canada.

Although the record of NDP support for any of our legislation on combatting terrorism is zero, I certainly hope that the member opposite will encourage her new-found friends in the NDP to take a tougher stand when it comes to terrorism and how we keep Canadians safe.