Procedure and House Affairs Committee on March 16th, 2011

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

That's right, the total.

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Let me answer now. Let me answer now, Mr. Brison.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

If you're going to ask a question, we're going to want an answer, so let's leave a little gap in-between.

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Brison, you asked what all of the bills cost.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

The 18.

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

I can't give you that answer because not all of the bills are my responsibility. Some of the bills are the Minister of Justice's responsibility. I can go through the bills and point out the bills I'm responsible for and what the costs are. Is that what you want me to do, Mr. Brison?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

I want the total figure from both ministers as to what the 18 bills will cost.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

The cost for bills that you asked for, per the breakdown here, is approximately $631 million.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

So we're being told over $600 billion—

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

No, no, no.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

—or $600 million.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Sorry, $631 million with respect to the bills for which you have asked for the costs. And as I indicated, for many of them there are no federal costs, but where there are costs attributable, in the information you have before you, it totals $631 million.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

You have said there are no federal costs. So there are other costs. What are the costs to the provinces?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Again, I'll give you an example. With respect to the bill that was recently passed by Parliament, consecutive parole ineligibility, there are no costs for at least 25 years because for the individuals who would be affected by this, their matter doesn't come up for 25 years. Therefore, it's impossible at this particular time to say—

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

So you don't have the costs for the provinces?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Again, in the example I've given you, there are no costs to the provinces, in the sense that for somebody who is no longer eligible for parole after committing more than one murder, this won't kick in for 25 years after that individual has been convicted. So you can see why we've indicated that there are no costs at this particular time.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

You've indicated that your U.S.-style mega-prison agenda has no costs to the taxpayers in many of these bills. Is that what you're saying?

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Since you've raised the issue of prisons, could you identify the mega-style U.S. prison you're referring to, please?

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Minister Toews, I want you to answer a question about the—

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

I'm just asking because you're asking a question—

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Minister Toews, Minister Toews—

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

—and you're putting false information on the record, Mr. Brison—

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Minister Toews, Minister Toews—

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

—and if you're going to make those kinds of statements, Mr. Brison, please put it and I will respond fully.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Minister Toews, do you recognize this document?