Mr. Speaker, I find it rather odd that the Reform Party has latched onto such a question. I would consider it an honour for all Canadians to be represented abroad by a fellow Canadian. You might find this particularly odd out of the mouth of a Bloc member, but it is true.
It is deplorable that the Reform Party has latched onto such a case as this to make political hay, to make the newspapers, or for whatever reason, and is using every means possible to put other cases before the House of Commons, when the matter could be resolved once and for all with Bill C-42.
I have already spoken to Bill C-42 and criticized the work done by the Senate on certain amendments. I criticized the Senate's meddling in a matter of this sort and its forcing the House to some extent to decide on each case individually, to come back with a specific bill for each judge wishing to do any sort of work internationally.
The Reformers are doing much the same thing. They introduce an amendment and then an amendment to an amendment. They will try every means to delay the work of the House on this bill, whose objective is clear: to permit judges with the experience or certain abilities, who have a vision of things international, to provide assistance, as other countries are entitled to expect from Canada, from a democratic country with a lot of experienced judges.
It is Justice Arbour in this case, but it could be Justice Bellehumeur or any other judge looking for an opportunity to fulfil a specific international mandate. All kinds of reasons are being put forward to delay passage of this bill. They are going to great lengths to deter judges who might want to fulfil specific international functions.
We have before us a Reform amendment adding yet more requirements. The Reform Party wants to make it quite clear that Canada will not pay moving, transport and other costs, although this is already provided for in Bill C-42.
Section 56.1, as proposed in Bill C-42, gives the government discretion. Of course, I am not 100 per cent behind everything the people across the way do, but we must realize that voters have given the Liberal government opposite a mandate to manage public funds. We must at least trust our friends in this regard. There is a time to condemn, but there are times also when we must realize that it is pointless to protest, and I think this is a case in point.
I will take a moment to read section 56.1, so that you and the people listening to us can see the risk of going too far in making changes and waging procedural battles in the House for the sake of it.
Section 56.1 states:
(1) Notwithstanding section 55, a judge may, with the authorization of the Government of Canada, participate in international activities or international technical assistance programs or in the work of an international organization of states or an institution of such an organization, and may, if the participation is so authorized, receive moving or transportation expenses and reasonable travel and other expenses either from the Government of Canada or from an international organization or an institution of such an organization.
Could it be any clearer? The government may provide financial assistance at the time of approving participation. Take Justice Arbour for example. Upon receiving a request from her, the government may authorize Justice Arbour to participate in international activities and specify in this authorization that it will be up to the judge to have her expenses reimbursed either by the UN, or whatever organization hires her, or by Canada. Canada can contribute by paying these costs.
At present, Canada gives money to the UN every time it participates in an international aid mission. Shall we stop at paying a judge's moving expenses if that is the kind of contribution Canada wants to make? Section 56.1 very clearly provides that the government may, in authorizing participation, confirm with the international organization or an institution of such organization who will pay the moving and transportation expenses or any other expense associated with the function the judge has applied for and been selected.
I cannot understand why we have a Reform amendment on this today. Let us stop playing this little game, for which a number of us, including myself, were condemning the Senate a few days ago. My point was that the Senate was wasting its time on insignificant changes. This bill had already been passed here, and moved on to the Senate. After great philosophical discussions, after consulting such eminent publications as Frank , a highly serious newspaper on which the senators based their demands for amendments, after this most serious work, the Senate sends us back the bill, and the Reform jumps on the bandwagon to call for other amendments, whereas they had every opportunity to question the witnesses and to propose amendments at the appropriate time.
The first time this bill came before the House, they did nothing, because they did not believe it was a serious bill, or so I heard in the House. Now, today, they realize that it is fairly significant, for the senators have said so-and they are such a reliable source.
Today, amendments are being presented, and for some reason they are attempting to make political hay with this bill.
I wish it to be known that we in the Bloc Quebecois are totally against the proposed amendment to clause 56.1(2) of Bill C-42. I would invite the Reform Party members to look at this bill a little more seriously so we can move on to something else.