House of Commons Hansard #146 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-44.
Paul Forseth Reform New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
How much money was spent in 1992-93 for ad hoc private lawyers to do local federal prosecutions in place of local provincial crown counsel?
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Cape Breton—The Sydneys Nova Scotia
Liberal
Russell MacLellan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
The Department of Justice does not hire private lawyers either on a standing or ad hoc basis to replace local provincial crown counsel. Agents of the Attorney General provide legal services that would otherwise be provided by Department of Justice lawyers but cannot be provided because of geographic location or workload pressures.
In those circumstances where it has been necessary to hire standing or ad hoc crown agents to conduct federal prosecutions, the prosecutions have been pursuant to such legislation as the Narcotic Control Act, the Food and Drug Act, the Income Tax Act, the Competition Act and the Fisheries Act. In 1992-93, the federal government paid crown agents $21.3 million for criminal prosecution work. As well, other work performed by crown agents on behalf of the federal government totalled $18.7 million. This means that the total cost of crown agent work for 1992-93 was $40 million.
As a result of these very significant costs, the Department of Justice began to look at alternate approaches in its provision of criminal prosecution services. One approach involves pilot projects that, where economically feasible, would replace crown agents currently performing prosecution responsibilities with respect to the Narcotic Control Act and the Food and Drug Act with in-house Department of Justice counsel. The first such project is currently under way in Toronto with two other sites under consideration. It is expected that these pilot projects will realize savings ranging from 15 to 20 per cent and serve as part of the department's commitment to the cost effective provision of government services to the public.
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, would you be so kind as to call Starred Questions Nos. 99, 103, and 114.
*Question No. 99-
Maurice Godin Bloc Châteauguay, QC
What results were produced by the $3,404,136 invested in the Kahnawake Reserve from 1989 to 1993 under the national native alcohol and drug abuse program?
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health
The amount injected into the national native drug and alcohol abuse program (NNDAADAP) for the Kahnawake community between 1989 and 1993 is $3,095,853.27. This breaks down as follows: 1989-90 $489,800.60; 1990-91 $560,601.60; 1991-92 $662,860.50; 1992-93 $681,331.07; and 1993-94 $701,259.50.
These amounts were provided to the Kahnawake community through contribution agreements, but they were not necessarily used exclusively for the Kahnawake aboriginal population. Shakotiia'takehnhas Community Services is the organization mandated by the Kahnawake Band Council to co-ordinate the following programs: (1) social services (2) NNAADAP program (3) community health representatives program and (4) NNAADAP resource centre program
It acts as an administrator for regional NNAADAP activities for the entire aboriginal population of Quebec, submitting financial reports to Health Canada.
The key NNAADAP activities at Kahnawake are as follows:
Prevention: Various strategies (control, influence, education) have been used to prevent or minimize the use of the substances involved. The team in place has been involved with consciousness raising and education activities, as well as those offering alternatives to substance abuse. All these address the population of Kahnawake in general; some have specific target groups.
Activity reports are submitted to us regularly to justify the funding.
NNAADAP Resource Centre (Film Library): The resource centre is administered by Shakotiia'takehnhas Community Services. Its purpose is the acquisition and distribution to aboriginal communities and other organizations affiliated with NNAADAP of films, videos and other material free of charge. Principal activities are: material loans and handling, searches for pertinent and user adapted material, and support to workers in preparing promotional and educational activities in both official languages. The centre is not exclusively for the population of Kahnawake but rather for all aboriginal communities throughout Quebec.
Rehabilitation: An aboriginal centre has been set up to provide rehabilitation services to Quebec's Mohawk population: the Onen:To'Kon Centre. While mainly serving the Kahnawake and Kanesatake Mohawk, it also provides services to other English speaking nations in Quebec, as therapy cycles are available.
Administration of the various NNAADAP activities: Shakotiia'takehnhas Community Services acts as the administrator, co-ordination and reimbursement of costs, for certain regional activities, at the request of Health Canada. Note: these activities are for the entire aboriginal population of Quebec.
Results: The results of these activities have been a new attitude toward drugs and alcohol within the aboriginal population. Alcohol-free social activities are now more popular. There has also been a markedly increased interest in National Drug Awareness Week; the last time, related activities went on for a month. It is also worthy of note that the Onen:To'Kon Treatment Centre has treated more than 1,312 persons for alcohol and drug abuse on an in-patient or out-patient basis.
*Question No. 103-
André Caron Bloc Jonquière, QC
As of November 1, 1994, how much money has the federal government invested and how much will it invest under the Economic and Regional Development Agreement (ERDA) and, more specifically in relation to the project to upgrade the highway linking the municipalities of Alma and La Baie, Quebec (highway project 70/170)?
Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport
The 70/170 highway project is part of the Canada-Quebec subsidiary agreement on transportation development signed in 1985 within the framework of the Economic and Regional Development Agreement (ERDA).
The transportation agreement, administered by Transport Canada on the federal side, expired on October 31, 1993, but commitments for registered projects were met with current funds under the agreement for an additional 12 months up to October 31, 1994.
The project concerned was registered when the agreement was signed. A $25 million portion was to have been financed in equal parts under the agreement between the Canadian and the Quebec governments, $12.5 million each.
The total amount allocated under the agreement from the early stages up to October 31, 1994 was $21,529,600, of which $10,764,800 came from the federal government. Since no additional funding could be allocated after October 31, this sum was for all intents and purposes the federal government's total maximum contribution to this project.
Each government's $1,735,000 shortfall relative to the $12.5 million initially promised was primarily attributable to delays during the course of the project.
The 70/170 project was not able to follow the originally planned schedule. Although the first section between La Baie and Jonquière was completed on schedule, construction was slowed down significantly in 1991 and 1992 because of environmental studies, cancellation of the Jonquière bypass road and budget restrictions in the Quebec department of transport. Later, construction resumed on the Jonquière-Alma section, a four-lane divided highway. The first 3.8-kilometre segment beginning three kilometres north of Jonquière is currently nearing completion. Expropriation for the remainder of the segment leading to the outskirts of Alma has also been completed.
It should be noted that funds which could not be committed to the highway 70/170 project were reallocated to another highway project under the agreement in order to ensure that these funds were spent. The Quebec government is expected to carry this project to completion subject to availability of funds.
*Question No. 114-
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
What was the printing cost of the photo bookmarks that were included in the 1995 immigration plan document package?
Sergio Marchi LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
The minister's compliments card, which was included in the 1995 immigration plan document package, was intended to be generic in nature and useful for distribution with various Citizenship and Immigration Canada documents. Accordingly, 30,000 were ordered for a total cost of $2,083.48 or less than 7 cents each.
Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Madam Speaker, due to the number and length of responses, I ask that they be printed in Hansard as if read.
Jean-Paul Marchand Bloc Québec-Est, QC
I have a point of order, Madam Speaker, concerning Question No. 93, which was tabled on October 19, 1994, that is to say 110 days ago. Normally, such questions are to be answered within 45 days. I would like an explanation as to the reasons for this delay, a delay that we consider unreasonable.
Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Madam Speaker, perhaps I could finish what I was saying before dealing with the point of order raised by the hon. member.
I indicated that these questions would be answered as if read. That was agreed and those are now acceptable.
Question Passed As Order For ReturnRoutine Proceedings
Kingston and the Islands Ontario
Liberal
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I would ask that Question No. 94 be made an Order for Return. If it is, then the return would be tabled immediately. Then I will deal with the request.
Question Passed As Order For ReturnRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)
Is it the pleasure of the House that Question No. 94 be deemed to have been made an Order for Return?
Question Passed As Order For ReturnRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.
Question No. 94-
Vic Althouse NDP Mackenzie, SK
Regarding the Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA) payments, ( a ) how many individuals participated in NISA over each of the last 4 years, ( b ) what has been the cost of purchasing and installing computing and processing equipment since the program began in 1991 to the present and are there any plans for future major improvements, ( c ) what is the waiting time from date of receipt of application until date cheque is issued, ( d ) in 1993 and 1994, how many applications fell into the category requiring 1 month for processing, 2 months, etc. up to 10 months or more and what are the chief reasons for the delays?
(Return tabled.)
Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Madam Speaker, Question No. 93 standing in the name of the hon. member for Québec-Est relates to contracts for services, supplies and leasing awarded by the Department of Public Works and Government Services since October 25, 1993, in all federal constituencies in Quebec, and to the list of government properties located in these same constituencies.
As you can imagine, the list is long. The government has been working on a response ever since the question was received. I understand that it is almost ready and I will table it in this House as soon as possible. I hope that the hon. member can wait that long because there are many items to put down on that list.
The government owns many properties, as he knows, and he also knows that the department in question has a great many contracts in the province of Quebec and that, with 75 constituencies, the list will be very long. I hope that he can wait for all the information to be compiled in response to his question. I will be tabling that response in this House shortly.
Question Passed As Order For ReturnRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)
The questions as enumerated by the parliamentary secretary have been answered.
Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Madam Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.
Question Passed As Order For ReturnRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)
Shall the remaining questions stand?
The House resumed consideration of the motion, that Bill C-44, an act to amend the Immigration Act and the Citizenship Act and to make a consequential amendment to the Customs Act, be read the third time and passed.
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
Madam Speaker, I rise today to participate in the debate, at third reading, on Bill C-44, which amends the Immigration Act, the Citizenship Act and the Customs Act.
Before getting to the crux of the matter, I want to make a few comments to help us during this debate or at least to make us think of the importance of the decisions which we will be making when we vote on this bill.
In Part I of the Immigration Act outlining the Canadian immigration policy, sections (i) and (j) mention the need to maintain and protect the health, safety and good order of Canadian society'', and alsopromote international order and justice by denying the use of Canadian territory to persons who are likely to engage in criminal activity''.
We agree with these principles and objectives because they reflect the large consensus on which are based our legal and justice systems. But there are also concerns which are directly related to Bill C-44 and which are equally important to understand the issue being debated.
During the recent consultations held by the minister regarding immigration, someone said that "intolerance was the fastest growing industry in Canada". Hysteria, racism and fear result from intolerance and generally lead people to confuse reality with perception. Reality is what exists in fact, while perception is the representation of something based on an impression.
This is why, for some time now, Canadians have been under the impression that criminal immigrants abound in our country. Given such an impression, it is easy to jump to the conclusion that immigrants are responsible for most crimes.
We must firmly oppose the spreading of adulterated and erroneous information on immigration, since it adversely affects the relation of confidence which should exist between a host country and its immigrants.
Last year, a study conducted by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration revealed that there is no link between ethnic origin and the propensity to commit crimes. Contrary to what some people would have us believe, persons born abroad and now living in Canada are under-represented in the prison population, as Derrick Thomas, senior researcher in the department has confirmed. While new arrivals represent 20.2 per cent of Canada's population, they represent only 11.9 per cent of the population in prison or on parole. Moreover, contrary to certain popular beliefs, visible minorities are not inordinately represented in statistics on crime.
In view of the many questions people have and the concerns they express, it is worth pointing out that the crime rate dropped by 5 per cent in 1993. According to the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, the crime rate reported by police departments dropped for the second consecutive year in 1993. The 5 per cent decrease is the biggest in a single year since the practice of gathering statistics on crime began in 1962.
This confirms the statement I made earlier about reality and perceptions. While the public feels that crime has increased generally, this is not actually the case. The same thing may be said for the relationship people try to establish between immigration and criminality.
It is certainly not my intention to downplay the seriousness of criminal activities. They exist, and we are aware of them. I know people experience real fear about their safety. Surveys have shown this. Nevertheless, we have to look at the facts.
We should also look for and decry the source of public misconceptions. This House must not reflect the sensationalism of supermarket tabloids or the media, which give too much attention to individual cases making them appear to be the norm in Canada.
It is unbelievable that, having first singled out young people as being the source of all evil, we are now pointing to immigrants as being the scourge of humanity. Should we not regard socio-economic conditions as the fundamental basis of crime and not immigration? And are not the difficulties in the areas of finances, adjustment, training and employment experienced by immigrant families, and young people in particular, the true causes of crime rather than immigration itself? Do you agree?