Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to conclude my remarks with respect to Bill C-40 which, as I mentioned at the outset, the Progressive Conservative Party is supporting in principle. I was at a point in my remarks where I was generally referring to the lack of resources that the Liberal government has committed to frontline police services.
Not to get into a rant on that particular subject, obviously there is a bit of contradiction when we see legislation brought forward that is aimed at improving the criminal justice system without a doubt. I do not in anyway castigate the government for its intent behind the legislation, but we have seen contradictory statements with respect to its true commitment to the issue of justice, in particular to the issue of resources for frontline police officers who are inevitably tasked with the extremely important role of protecting Canadians in an effective way.
Those brave men and women are constantly faced with high public expectations, the need to fight an ever increasing and complicated criminal element that exists and is growing out there.
At the same time they are loosing confidence that those who are responsible, we in the House and particularly the government who give them the necessary tools to carry out that important task, are not behind them. It is demonstrable when they see significant cuts to their budget like, as I previously mentioned, the $74 million slashing of the RCMP crime budget. These figures are not imaginary by any stretch of the imagination. They come from the auditor general.
The auditor general is Canada's top accountant and the person charged with the crucial task of bringing forward the figures. One would hope, in light of the recent track record of the government, that we will not see the auditor general fired for being truthful in his statement and recitation of facts when it comes to the numbers and the budgets of particular departments.
I want to take a very brief moment in my remarks to pay special tribute to the law enforcement agencies, the fire services, the emergency response teams, those involved in the clean up and the initial rescue attempts at the crash site of Swissair Flight 111 near Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia. This week those individuals were given a very sad and in many ways gruesome task of cleaning up the wreckage on that site.
Individuals from my riding of Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough have been engaged in that exercise. They have been in the hangar going over material and remnants of the crash. They are engaged in this very heart-wrenching exercise.
Certainly the quality of mercy has not been strained for all of those who have given up their time and their effort to take part in the aftermath of this very tragic event. Individuals such as Constable Kevin Scott and Reverend Matheson of the town of New Glasgow and many others who, like the law enforcement agents themselves, are doing their very best at times with limited support and resources. They are doing their very best with their hearts, hands and minds. I certainly want to recognize that effort.
I look forward to giving my support to Bill C-40 and partaking in the scrutiny that will take place at the justice committee. I reiterate the hope I expressed earlier in my remarks. The government indicates a greater willingness to allow opposition amendments to improve legislation. That was articulated by the parliamentary secretary in her remarks on the bill.
On behalf of the PC Party I express support for the particular piece of legislation. It is a positive initiative, but there are certainly more questions that will have to be addressed at the justice committee. I hope a spirit of non-partisanship is now permeating the government benches when it comes to fundamental issues of justice.
Other private member's bills are coming forward by government members and opposition members alike, important legislative initiatives and changes such as changes to the consecutive sentencing provisions that currently exist in the Criminal Code. I again look forward to and anxiously anticipate the opportunity to partake in that debate both at the justice committee and in the House of Commons.
I will conclude my remarks with well wishes to you, Mr. Speaker, and to all for a happy Thanksgiving weekend.