Debates of Nov. 19th, 1998

Highway System

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Transport confirmed at last that the Laurentian Park and Trans Labrador highways were eligible for his strategic highway improvement program. There is only one problem: there is no more money. Unbelievable.

Could the minister tell us if his representations to his finance colleague were successful and if he has any reason to believe that there will be money for highway improvement in the next budget?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance and all my cabinet colleagues are well aware of the need to improve the Canadian highway system.

This, however, is a matter of fiscal priorities and a matter to be debated among Canadians and among government members. But as soon as we are in a financial position to do so, I think we will start with a highway reconstruction program.

Veterans Affairs

[Judi Longfield, Liberal, Whitby—Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Veterans Affairs.

Could the minister give the House a status update on the veterans legislation and more specifically how it would address the concerns of our merchant navy veterans?

[Fred Mifflin, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Mr. Speaker, consultations with the main veterans group are coming to a close. We had a very fruitful discussion with all groups.

I am pleased to report to the House and our colleagues that I expect the first reading of the bill to be some time in early December. Following second reading the bill will go to report stage for discussion in the appropriate committee.

With respect to the merchant navy veterans who get exactly the same benefits since 1982 as uniformed veterans, their allowances will actually be changed from the civilian war allowance to the Veterans War Allowance Act. They will all—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary Southeast.

Apec Inquiry

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister in his stonewalling keeps telling us to let the process work. The solicitor general whenever he has the guts to show up says let the process work.

[The Speaker]

I want the hon. member to withdraw that last statement.

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

I withdraw, Mr. Speaker.

I have a question for the Deputy Prime Minister. Why it is that the solicitor general when kibitzing about this on the airplane did not just tell Fred Toole to let the commission work?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, why is the hon. member, who I think is a former director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, showing such satisfaction with the government's financial policies? Neither he nor his colleagues throughout almost an entire question period have said one word about the government's financial policies, its policies on economic growth and its policies on tax reform.

Obviously they are very satisfied with the work of the Minister of Finance and the Liberals. Thanks again for that vote of confidence.

[Jason Kenney, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this is getting more bizarre by the minute.

Every member of the Liberal caucus knows that the solicitor general is now going to be forced to take the fall by the Prime Minister. They all know it. They are just going through a tortuous process now.

My question is very simple. Instead of allowing the solicitor general to get away with this kind of complete violation of due process, why does the government not let the process work? Why does the government let the solicitor general get away with misleading this House, as he did, and misleading Canadians?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I reject the totally unwarranted premise of the hon. member's question. Why does he not let the process work instead of trying to taint it with his innuendoes and insinuations right here in this House? If he wanted the process to work he would do his job and ask questions about the very fine financial and economic policies of this government.

[Peter Mancini, NDP, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this is a serious issue before this House. It is not about who is here or who is not. It is not about name calling. It is about integrity and justice.

The Deputy Prime Minister says that the solicitor general has no role in the process. The solicitor general voluntarily created a role and is now a witness before the very commission that has to report to him.

When will the government not recognize the conflict and call upon the solicitor general to resign?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should take a look at the act setting up the commission. All the solicitor general does once the commission makes its report is receive the report. He is not charged with reviewing it, revising it, or doing anything with it other than receiving it. Therefore, I do not see any conflict of interest.

[Peter Mancini, NDP, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister has been fond in this question period of quoting from the affidavit of Mr. Toole.

Let me quote part of paragraph 15. “To this Mr. Scott said: Oh, you mean Hughie' and commented to the effect that Hughie might have to takea' or the hit' orfall'.”

The real question is, when did the Prime Minister's office know that Mr. Toole's affidavit and account of events contradicted the solicitor general's?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the affidavits were filed at a certain point in time. That speaks for the whole situation. As to other information, if I have any that I can provide the House I will do that.

But the important thing is that both affidavits are there. Both affidavits confirm what the solicitor general has been saying over and over in this House. Mr. Toole's affidavit, especially, confirms what the solicitor general has been saying in this House and that is that he has not prejudged this matter, even though he has no role in making any judgments about it.

[André Bachand, Progressive Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on June 11, 1997, the member for Fredericton took the following oath: “I solemnly and sincerely swear that I will be a faithful and loyal servant of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, as a member of the Privy Council of Her Majesty in right of Canada. I will keep secret any matter that comes to my knowledge in that capacity, and anything that is treated secretly by the council. I will always act in an appropriate way as a faithful and loyal servant of Her Majesty. So help me God”.

Now, on November 19, 1998, we have proof that the solicitor general has broken his oath of office and must resign.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I totally reject the premise of the hon. member's question. He read the oath of office of a privy councillor. He will not get any closer to the facts by reading this oath in the House.

[André Bachand, Progressive Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, an oath is an oath.

The evidence is there. You know and everyone knows that the solicitor general spoke about the APEC issue. He broke his oath of office and he broke his word.

Enough is enough! He must resign immediately. What other alternative does he have?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I totally reject the hon. member's premise, to the effect that the solicitor general broke a secret in violation of the oath in question.

Justice

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Justice.

There have been a number of disturbing cases recently of wrongful convictions coming to light.

What is the minister doing to make it easier for cases like these to be corrected?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians across this country know the names of Donald Marshall, David Milgaard and Guy Paul Morin. In fact, those names are a tragic reminder that at times our justice system does make mistakes. Because our system does make mistakes, it is important to have a mechanism to ensure that justice is ultimately done.

The existing mechanism is section 690 of the Criminal Code. I have indeed begun a public consultation into the operation of section 690 because I believe it is my obligation to ensure that we have the most transparent, timely, fair and efficient mechanism—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Dewdney—Alouette.

Apec Inquiry

[Grant McNally, Reform, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what we have heard and seen here today from the government is an example of its ethics, and that is to defend indefensible actions.

The solicitor general compromised this whole situation by his comments. The Deputy Prime Minister, as the former solicitor general, knows that.

I ask again, will he simply do the right thing and ask for his resignation now?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of ethics, why does the hon. member not do the ethical thing and not try to compromise the Public Complaints Commission hearings before they have barely begun?

National Defence

[René Laurin, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.

The latest statistics concerning sexual assaults in the army show that the total number of reported cases is now 241; that means there were 45 new cases during the last month.

How can the minister explain that there is almost one new case of sexual assault reported each day in the army despite the zero tolerance policy and the appointment of an ombudsman?