Public Safety Committee on June 2nd, 2015

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

With a little salt.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Okay, colleagues, we're back on Bill C-637 now for clause-by-clause consideration. Shall clause 1 carry?

(Clause 1 agreed to on division)

Shall the title pass?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Shall the bill carry?

(Bill agreed to on division)

Shall the chair report the bill to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you very much colleagues. Of course, there is no reprint as there have been no amendments to this bill.

Colleagues, after having this completed now we will slip into committee business. We will now go in camera and suspend for one minute while we make arrangements for our meeting.

[Proceedings continue in camera]

[Public proceedings Resume]

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

We're back in session.

Yes, Ms. Ablonczy, you had your name up.

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Having thought about a few words, I just want to say that I really have enjoyed this committee. I didn't know if I would or not when I was asked to sit on it, but I really have.

Randall, you've just been a real pleasure to work with. You're a gentleman, and your reasonableness and your good nature puts me to shame sometimes. I've really enjoyed it. Plus, I can go to you if I get stuck on crossword clues.

Rosane, I didn't know you before but I've really enjoyed working with you as well.

Elaine, we haven't worked together too much because you're new to this, but it's been a good committee.

Wayne is my favourite—a kind of favourite punching bag. He also has a really good nature. I know it's due to John's good influence, but I've enjoyed that for my colleagues here. It's just been a great committee.

I would just say in seriousness that although we have different perspectives on issues, in my heart I really urge all of us who are coming back, which will not include me, to just think about what's best for our country. I know there's always this yin and yang between privacy and human rights and security and vigilance, but the balance is not a small thing. It's so important. I just shudder when I see it's happening around the world. I think we cannot afford to be either naive or complacent. I don't know who is going to be on this committee after the election, but I just think what we do here is critical for the peace, order, and good government that our country deserves.

So, thank you, Mr. Chair, you've been wonderful. I didn't know what to expect from you but I think you're one of the best, if not the best, chairs I've worked with—and I've worked with a few. I really compliment you on that. What can I say about my colleagues? I better not say too much. Rosane and I have very different approaches but we have really come to appreciate each other and I think to be a really good working team.

As for my quiet, soft-spoken friend Rick, I should say that at the very first meeting we had, not of this committee but of our side, Rick and I butted heads hugely on an issue that I have forgotten, and he probably has too. But afterwards he came to me and he said, “I hope this isn't going to affect our working relationship.”

Do you remember that? I just said “Absolutely not. I think it's important that we have strong views and that we state them and that's the way we all get better.” So Rick, you're special. I have to tell you that Rick is married, surprisingly enough, to this absolutely drop-dead, gorgeous redhead. Who knew?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

LaVar isn't coming back so I'll let him speak for himself, but you probably know he was put on a different committee for a while and he missed you all so much that he lobbied and hollered and screamed until he got back. It's been great to work with you.

Ted is quiet. Ted has a lot of depth. You're going to serve your country extremely well. You're very smart, very thoughtful. Because I'm such a motor-mouth, I always admire people who can actually hold their fire and wait until they really know what's going on and then they press forward. Ted, you have my highest respect.

So those are my few words. I appreciate the clerk and the analysts and all who help make up this committee. You're the unseen force behind this committee—just to know you are appreciated.

I'm going to miss you all but I will be watching. Don't let the country down.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you very much, Ms. Ablonczy.

Yes, Mr. Payne.

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

It has been a real pleasure working on this committee, and Diane is right that I whined and cried and stomped my feet to get back on this committee. They put me on the ethics committee, saying that they needed somebody like me who was clean-cut and had no issues on that committee. Then I kind of gave them that “Oh, yes” look.

Anyway, I've been on this committee for awhile and certainly for me it has been a real pleasure to work with all of our colleagues here.

I do have some kudos for Randall. We went on fact-finding trip in the U.S. and he was our lead on the trip. He did an outstanding job representing our government and I just want to thank him for that again.

My colleagues here, it's been a lot of fun and certainly we all have differences of opinions and sometimes those do come out and that's the way it should be. But I think we all have the same concern, which is to make sure that the country is safe and that we're moving forward to protect our citizens and do the best that we can for each and every one.

I will miss the committee. I will miss the colleagues, but there's a lot of stuff I won't miss I have to admit.

I want to thank the clerks, and the analysts, and all of those translators and everyone here who has helped to make this committee a great place to be and to work with.

I just want to say thanks to everybody and thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you very much, Mr. Payne.

Are there any other comments?

Yes, Mr. Garrison.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

I'll let Mr. Norlock go first.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Go ahead, Mr. Norlock.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and to keep this appropriate and proper, through you to my fellow committee members, as was mentioned the people who really make this committee work, I call them the unsung heroes, are the Library of Parliament, our analysts, and the clerk.

I tell everyone I meet that the only non-political people, the people you can go to for a straight answer if you need one, the people who are always there to help you and not set little traps for you are those at Library of Parliament, the analysts and the clerks. These are the people who actually make this place work, the technicians, the folks who make sure we have enough to eat and drink, and see to our needs, like unplugging things and plugging things. And of course, there are the translators, who I think try to do their best to sometimes use the proper words when we can't find them.

After nine years on the committee and three parliaments, I must say that of the committees that I've sat on and been a part of during that time—of course, we sit in for our members—I always feel right at home at this committee. Despite my sparring with Mr. Easter, I respect every member of Parliament.

I was at a class of gifted students in three different grades and I always try to be somewhat apolitical. I tell them to talk to their parents, go on the Internet, find out who they are first, then see which political party best represents who they are and recognize, as I did, that you may change, that you may change your political views as time goes by.

Mr. Chair, when someone leaves this place—this is my second retirement—there's always some bitter sweetness and this is for sure is bittersweet. I have to say that in only one Parliament did this committee not work that well and it was a minority government, so things got pretty hairy. But, generally speaking, this is the best committee I've ever been on in both this and the last two Parliaments.

I must say, Randall, LaVar hit it right, when we went to another country, you represented yourself and us in the true style of what a member of Parliament in another country should do. You made sure there were differences, because there are, but you did it in a way that if we all used....I must admit if I used your tact and your way, I'd be prouder of myself at times. You are a true gentleman. Your whole team has reflected well on your party.

I don't think we've ever said anything truly hurtful to each other at this committee. When I had my little tirade with Wayne, it was political in nature, it was not personal in nature, and I think he understands that. I think we all do.

Everybody sees us during question period and I call it a blight on our democracy because we should respect our political leaders, but that respect has to start with us. I always say that question period starts off with the question: “Why are you the worst government that ever existed? You're a bunch of liars and cheats, etc.” Then we get up and respond: “We are the best government that ever was and you can blah, blah, blah”. If we want people to respect us, we need to respect each other and we need to show that. I don't think that's ever going to stop with question period.

Behind the scenes, we have our political handlers, we have the people who feed us the questions, we have the things we're trying to say. Hopefully, someday, Randall, we'll adopt a kinder, gentler way, and I hope I'll see that, but I don't think I'll see it in my lifetime, but it may happen.

This is the time, when you're leaving, as Shakespeare said—of course, I'm not dead, but I'm referring to my political career—“The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones”. Let's just say I'm burying all the old bones, and I'll try to have nothing but good memories of this place.

To all of you from me, a very heartfelt thanks, and an apology if you felt hurt by anything I said. It was strictly political, and we know we all hold different views, but we all have—as Diane mentioned in her hope—the best interests of our country at hand. If we always remember that, I think this country will continue to be the best place on God's good earth to live, to raise a family, and to work.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you very much, Mr. Norlock, and we now have comment from Mr. Garrison.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I did want to make sure we had time to say a few words for those who are not coming back. As for rest of us, we're trying to come back and we'll see how we do with that.

This is the only committee I have served on, apart from substituting at others once in a while. I would have to say that we've had tough opponents on the other side, but we have never seen our political differences become personal differences away from the table. I thank everyone on this committee for that. I think democracy won't work if we get into the situation where those political differences become personal.

I had the chance when we did a tour with the committee to get to know LaVar and Rick better. I now count them as friends, and I will miss them. I think Parliament will miss their voices.

Diane and I have a peculiar relationship, in that because of the long flights we do, we both do crossword puzzles. That's where the conspiracy between Diane and me comes in, sharing clues on crosswords for that last one you can't get on the flight to Calgary. I will miss the advice on crosswords. I will not always miss Diane's sharp attacks, but I do appreciate that they were always political. I do agree that the one thing we have in common on this committee is that everybody has been here to deal with very important issues and do what we all think is best for the country. I'm sorry that Wayne couldn't be here because I've learned a lot from Wayne, with his previous experience being on the committee, and also with his ability to manoeuvre, I'll say, through committee.

I don't want to go on and on, but I do also want to echo the thanks to the committee staff. I said to the analyst this morning that they're like firefighters. We don't call them very often, but when we do they're there with the proper hose to put out the fire at that time. I appreciate the work they've done for this committee, and of course, to all the other support staff who make this work.

I want to conclude with my thanks to the chair, especially through Bill C-51, which was very difficult politically for all of us. I think the chair did his best to remain a neutral and fair chair. I've always had a good relationship with him, and I thank him for the work he has done in steering this committee.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you, Mr. Garrison.

Mr. McCallum.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm a very temporary visitor to this place, but I also wanted to give my best wishes to those who will not be running in the next election. I will report back to Wayne the relatively nice things some of you have just said about him. That's quite something because since Mark Holland ceased to be a member of Parliament, Wayne is perhaps the Liberal that Conservatives most like not to like. I can say that publicly because Wayne wears that distinction as a badge of honour.

In any event, I know he wished you all well before he went off to the finance committee. I would like to echo that thought and wish everybody a good summer and a not so good, or possibly quite good, election coming up.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you very much, John.

Ms. James again.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm very happy that Mr. Garrison suggested we go public so that my colleagues on this side of the table could say a few words.

Before being on this committee, I sat on the citizenship and immigration and status of women committees. When I was appointed the parliamentary secretary for public safety, I had not previously been on this committee, nor had I ever subbed here. It was a huge learning curve for me. I have to tell you without the experience and knowledge of the three who are no longer going to sit here after the next election, I could not have fulfilled my duties as parliamentary secretary without their assistance.

LaVar, we're going to miss you.

Diane, we'll miss you as well, and also Rick. I've relied heavily on Rick in this committee, and I recognize the reasons you're leaving. You've obviously all been here a very long time and done tremendous work for this country, but at the same time on a personal level I'm going to miss you.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

Thank you very much, colleagues.

The chair generally...oh, yes, Madame Doré Lefebvre.

[Rosane Doré Lefebvre, NDP, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you.

I would like to add a francophone touch to those beautiful words directed at my colleagues. I would like to thank my colleagues from all the parties, especially the three leaving.

You have always been extremely kind and cordial, especially with the new MPs, and I thank you for that. I have learned a lot from you. I have learned a great deal from the professional way in which you interact, and I can never thank you enough for that.

In the first weeks after we arrived at Parliament, in 2011, after a hard day's work, I was shocked to see a minister, two NDP members and one Liberal member sharing a pizza and drinking beer on a patio on Sparks Street. That truly gave me faith in humanity and in our Parliament. As Rick mentioned, it is true that we attack each other a lot during question period, but outside work, we can all get along well. I have learned a lot from most of my colleagues from all the parties in the House.

I wish you a happy retirement and the best of luck in your future endeavours. I will always imagine that you are watching me when I rise in the House during question period. You will be there to watch me and I will try to do a good job.