Steven Blaney

[Public Safety, January 28th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, it is shocking, but we should not be surprised to see both the Liberals and the NDP opposing legislation they have not seen, they have not read, and that has not been tabled.

However, I can tell members one thing. We stand with the people of Ancaster and the Canadian people who do not want serious, violent, and repeat criminals taking others' lives once they go back into society after not having served their sentences properly. We will make sure that those who get a sentence for life stay in prison for life.

[Disaster Assistance, January 28th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, this program has been frozen since 1970 and we are catching up with half of the indexation.

What is most important for the communities of Manitoba, where I have been with the member for Saint Boniface, is that we are there to support the communities up to 90%.

When there are big disasters, the federal government stands by those communities. We will stand by those communities, and I invite that member to support the DFA program, which is there to support all communities throughout the country.

[Public Safety, January 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, this government is standing by communities and provinces when it comes to large disasters. The federal government is covering up to 90% of the cost when those big tragedies occur, and we are working hand in hand with the provinces and communities.

Let us be clear. This program was not updated or indexed for decades. We took half the indexation. The provinces are still part of the program. We will continue to support the provinces and communities whenever it is needed in this country, and we will face the challenge.

[Public Safety, January 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, Public Safety Canada has signed an agreement with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada to ensure that money makes it to the first nations and also to make it easier to coordinate with the provinces.

This news was well received by the communities and the provinces, and we will continue to support aboriginal communities that experience natural disasters.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), it is not anticipated that there will be any new costs in implementing this bill.

With regard to (b), the act will come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council. On coming into force, it will provide a new tool for federal and provincial law enforcement to lay charges under the Criminal Code for the trafficking of high volumes--10,000 cigarettes or more or 10 kg or more of raw leaf or any other tobacco product--of contraband tobacco.

On the act’s coming into force, the RCMP will implement an internal communications process to inform front-line RCMP officers of the new legislation.

With regard to (c), the act will come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.

With regard to (d), the Criminal Code applies evenly across Canada. The new Criminal Code offence will provide both the RCMP and the Sureté du Québec with a new tool to address the problem of trafficking in contraband tobacco. The bill will also allow for concurrent jurisdiction, whereby the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and provincial attorneys general would share the authority to prosecute this new Criminal Code offence. It is not anticipated that there will be any new costs in implementing this bill.

With regard to (e), it is not anticipated that there will be any new costs in enforcing this bill.

With regard to (f), it is recognized that organized crime networks are exploiting first nation communities and the jurisdictional and political relationships between those communities, governments, and enforcement agencies.

The objective of Bill C-10 is to target organized crime groups operating in these communities and involved in the large-volume trafficking of contraband tobacco, as well as other forms of serious criminality, including trafficking in weapons and illicit drugs.

With regard to (g), Bill C-10 provides a new tool for federal and provincial law enforcement agencies to target organized crime groups involved in the contraband tobacco market.

The RCMP focuses its federal investigations on criminal networks conducting illegal operations in Canada, regardless of the illicit commodity. The outcome of potential seizures of contraband tobacco resulting from Bill C-10 is unknown.

With regard to (h), Bill C-10 establishes a new Criminal Code offence to help address the problem of trafficking in contraband tobacco. The bill is not intended to affect legitimate trade in tobacco products, but rather to target organized crime groups and their associates involved in the large-volume trafficking of contraband tobacco.

With regard to (i), under the bill, the maximum penalty for a first offence would be six months’ imprisonment on summary conviction and five years’ imprisonment if prosecuted on indictment. The decision to proceed by way of summary conviction, six months, or indictment, five years, is a matter of prosecutorial discretion.

The bill also establishes mandatory minimum penalties of imprisonment of six months to two years less a day on second and subsequent convictions.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the transaction regarding the Leclerc Institution is not a real estate sale, but rather a lease for a period of ten years effective April 1, 2014, with a renewal option of five years.

In processing parliamentary returns, the government applies the principles set out in the Access to Information Act. As such, the details of the transaction are protected under these principles, as the information was obtained in confidence from the government of a province. In order to determine whether this information can be disclosed, consultations with the provincial government of Quebec are required, and these consultations cannot be completed within the timeframe provided.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, in response to this question, the RCMP has provided the following assessment. There is an ongoing review of this matter by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

With regard to (a), the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code, and their supporting regulations, are used by the RCMP to determine storage requirements. With regard to (i), no. With regard to (ii), not applicable.

With regard to (b), there are two regulations that apply to the storage of firearms: the Storage, Display and Transportation of Firearms and Other Weapons by Businesses Regulations; and the Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations. With regard to (i), no. With regard to (ii), not applicable.

With regard to (c) to (e) and (h) to (l), there is an ongoing review of this matter by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

With regard to (f) and (g), the RCMP’s data collection system does not capture this information.

[Public Safety, December 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it would have been nice to have the NDP's support when we increased police resources by one-third in consecutive budgets. We did the same for the Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. We have increased the number of Canada Border Services Agency officers by nearly 26%.

The Conservatives are eager to get a Christmas present from the NDP and have them support us when the time comes to invest in improving Canadians' safety.

[Public Safety, December 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. Canada does not condone the use of torture.

[Public Safety, December 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my hon. colleague that the issue she is referring to has to do with the American authorities, not American politicians.

That being said, let me be clear: Canada does not condone the use of torture.

However, if information that can save Canadian lives is brought to the attention of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or our law enforcement agencies, I expect that information to be considered.