House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2019, with 41% of the vote.
Justice December 12th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, as a former provincial attorney general the member should know that the previous crimes of criminals are in the CPIC system. They are there so police can find information rapidly. The sexual offender registry will be an addendum to the CPIC system. It will give the police the tools to investigate quickly and prevent future crimes.
The member should be congratulating us. As a former attorney general I believe he was one of the ones who wanted it.
Justice December 12th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that the legislation has had first reading in the House. We must debate this issue further.
I would think the hon. member would be getting up and thanking us for coming forward with this forward looking initiative. We have consensus from the provinces to move forward with this initiative. We intend to bring it forward so that it will stand up to any court challenges in the future. The bottom line is, we will have a better investigative tool for the police to do its work.
Justice December 12th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there was consensus that when the legislation was brought in it could not be brought in retroactively because it might not stand up to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This sex offender registry will certainly help make our streets safer and be an investigative tool for police forces in terms of solving sex crimes.
I would think the hon. member opposite would be more supportive of us taking these steps and moving forward.
Sex Offender Information Registration Act December 11th, 2002
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-23, an act respecting the registration of information relating to sex offenders, to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other acts.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Terrorism December 11th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member should keep in mind, and I believe it was in 2001, that we listed the military wing of Hezbollah under the United Nations suppression of terrorism regulations. We did that.
Today I and we as a government have an obligation under the act to make sure that our facts are absolutely accurate in terms of the listing of entities. We have done that. We have listed three entities today.
The member should be standing up and congratulating us on--
Terrorism December 11th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I have no intention of and you will not see me commenting on whatever is the most popular sensationalized interest group of the day, as that member continues to do.
I can tell Canadians with great confidence that the decisions we make in terms of the listing of entities are based on criminal and security intelligence information that will stand up to the tests of appeal or the courts. That is the kind of decision I have to make and that is the kind of decision we made.
Justice December 11th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I would have expected the hon. member to know that Karla Homolka is in jail.
The Prime Minister, as justice minister at the time, was heavily involved in the development of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. When we bring in this legislation, we want to ensure that it abides by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and we will do that.
Justice December 11th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, let me put it this way. The member is trying to debate legislation before he has in effect seen it. We will bring forward the legislation at first reading this afternoon. He will have an opportunity to talk about the pros and cons of that legislation at committee.
I believe, as do the provinces and the territories, that it will be very good legislation and will do a lot in terms of protecting the public health and safety of Canadians.
Justice December 11th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, again the leader of the official opposition has his facts wrong. The fact of the matter is that if we are to introduce legislation, which is on the Order Paper to be introduced today at 3 o'clock, we want to have the cooperation of the provinces.
We had a federal-provincial-territorial meeting about six weeks ago where we had agreement to come forward with the legislation. We will do just that at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Hold on to your shirt.
Terrorism December 11th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I can assure members and Canadians that I did not flip-flop on this issue. As I have said quite a number of times in the House, this process takes time. If we are to do our job under the act, we have to base it on criminal and security intelligent information.
We will not do our job by showboating with other groups, as the hon. member and his colleague tried to do today at a press conference. I do not have the luxury to showboat. I can only do my job according to the act.