Debates of April 22nd, 1996

Rcmp

[Pierre De Savoye, Bloc, Portneuf, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

The RCMP external review committee is responsible for hearing appeals for certain types of grievances filed by regular or civilian members of the RCMP against the senior management this police force. The committee, chaired since 1990 by Jennifer Lynch, is the only legal recourse offered to members of the RCMP for an independent hearing.

Can the Prime Minister explain why the RCMP granted Mrs Lynch a one year contract worth $176,000, to review the present grievance system? Does the Prime Minister not agree that Mrs. Lynch is in fact in conflict of interest since, on the one hand, she hears grievances against the senior management of the RCMP and, on the other, she has a contract with the senior management?

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as we know, the Solicitor General is in hospital this week. I will take note of the hon. member's question and I will provide him with an answer at a later date.

House Of Commons

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, people across Canada are most disturbed with the Prime Minister's lack of parliamentary democracy in this House.

If MPs cannot speak out on important issues without being punished, Canada is in serious trouble. Remember, if the GST is not scrapped, the Deputy Prime Minister will resign. My question, therefore, is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

How can the Deputy Prime Minister sit there in all good conscience after having gone back on her word while a long-time colleague of hers is made a scapegoat and hung out to dry while standing up for his principles?

[The Speaker]

I am trying to tie that into the administrative responsibilities of members. If the Prime Minister would like to answer, I will permit him to do so.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, every member has a chance to express his or her views on everything. However, when it comes to non-confidence in the government, it is a very clear statement that they do not support the government.

Coming from rural Quebec, I have to explain to the hon. member who was born in Nova Scotia that I am here defending the British parliamentary system which has existed for a long time. A vote of confidence in the government is not the same thing as other votes.

[Jim Abbott, Reform, Kootenay East, BC]

They have free votes.

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

That government has free votes.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

We have had more free votes here. We do not need a lesson on that score from the Reform Party.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

You sound like Mulroney.

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

You are an embarrassment.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

The problem with members of the Reform Party is that they do not want to know what is a government because they will never be a government. Having the responsibility of a government, people can ask my members. They have had more free votes than ever before in this Parliament.

When somebody wants to exclude himself from the party, he votes against the government in a motion of confidence. This is a well known practice, which existed since Parliament was founded many centuries ago in Britain.

Employment Equity Act

[Warren Allmand, Liberal, Notre-Dame-De-Grâce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Labour.

In 1995, Parliament passed important amendments to the Employment Equity Act, but these changes will only come into effect one year after the law's proclamation.

At a committee meeting last Thursday, the human rights commissioner urged the government to proclaim this law as soon as possible. When will this employment equity law be proclaimed?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Labour and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, at the present time, the Department of Human Resources is drafting the regulations.

Next month, the employees of the department will consult with the parties, the employers' associations, the unions and all other interested parties about the application of this important legislation on employment equity. We hope that we will be able to fulfil our

commitment and that, by mid-fall, the draft regulations will be in force.

Somalia Inquiry

[Jean Charest, Progressive Conservative, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

He gets time instead of us.

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Let us be fair in here.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Sherbrooke.

[Jean Charest, Progressive Conservative, Sherbrooke, QC]

My question has to do with the new allegations relative to the Somalia inquiry, the allegations about papers being shredded in September 1995. These are very serious allegations which go right to the heart of an issue of confidence within the government.

I would like to know from the Prime Minister whether he does not think at this point, given this serious allegation concerning his department, that the time has come to ask his minister of defence to stand aside.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, before replying to the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, I would like to remind the member for Fraser Valley West who did not want the member to get up, about political democracy and freedom of speech when they want to deny a member of Parliament the right to speak.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

I will say to the hon. member for Sherbrooke that for the first time in a very long time, maybe since I have been around, never has a government had an inquiry into the operation of the armed forces. It was done on the recommendation of the Minister of National Defence.

The commission is looking at all aspects of the operation. If something wrong has been done, the commission will report it. The reason we have this commission is that this good Minister of National Defence had the wisdom to recommend the inquiry to the Government of Canada.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

Dear colleagues, today we have the pleasure to welcome in the House a group of young Canadians who have made a significant contribution to their country.

They are young men and women who have distinguished themselves in many fields, some for their musical, athletic or artistic talent and others for their bravery, entrepreneurial skills, scientific innovation or commitment to public service or humanitarian causes. They are young and they have already made a difference. These young Canadians represent excellence and are symbols of achievement for Canada.

Please join me in welcoming and congratulating the winners of the YTV Achievement Awards.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Point Of Order

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister raised in the House the fact that under some misunderstanding he has about question period and the number of people who are supposed to ask questions in which order, I think he purely is trying to put on my shoulders the fact that I did not want this fellow over here, whoever, to-

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.