Debates of Oct. 16th, 2001

Anti-terrorism Act

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Yes, gangsterism. The bill defines terrorist activity by referring to conventions. About terrorism or terrorist activity it says that it is as an act committed for “a political, religious or ideological purpose”, which threatens the public and national security because it “is intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to a person”, “to endanger a person's life”, “to cause substantial property damage”, and might “cause serious bodily harm” as a result of “serious interference with or serious disruption of an essential service, facility or system”.

This is just one part of the definition. I did not mention the ten conventions that make reference to certain definitions of what may constitute a terrorist activity.

Just the part of the definition that I mentioned deserves a closer look. More than ten or fifteen minutes are necessary before adopting this clause. Experts are required, and no one in this House has the expertise to really be able to say whether or not this is going too far.

There may be members who have some expertise, but it is tinted by the party line of their political formations, and that includes myself, so outside experts are required to take a hard look at these definitions and tell us if we are right to be concerned about a possible violation of certain freedoms.

We could discuss this issue for a long time. I could talk about such a bill for hours, but since time is always a consideration I will deal with the core of the issue.

Another point that raises concerns is the whole question of electronic surveillance. Under the criminal code it is possible to use electronic surveillance by obtaining a warrant if surveillance is carried out for a specific time period, but the person being monitored must subsequently be informed of the fact.

Now all of this has been turned upside down. The monitoring period has been extended. The minister now has direct input. It will all be very vague. The way it will really operate is unclear. We do not know what limits there will be.

When more powers are granted to the police, as is the case here, whether it be preventive arrests, arrests without a warrant, or the Attorney General of Canada suspending the Access to Information Act whenever he pleases if he believes that national security is threatened and there is no one to oversee what he is doing, no one to question the minister's decision, this is of concern to me.

The fact that this law would not be reviewed for three years is also cause for concern in my opinion.

Why does the minister, and this is the question I asked her yesterday in the House, not promise to have this law reviewed or make it possible to have this law reviewed by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights after one year?

With everything that is happening on the national and international scene, I am convinced that following its adoption Bill C-36 will be more or less widely applied throughout Canada, depending on the case.

Over the course of the year, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights could properly examine what has been done and determine if there has been any abuses. What we need to keep in mind is that we must prevent any abuse in applying exceptional legislation such as this.

As I have run out of time, I am prepared to answer any questions.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with a great deal of interest to the speech of my friend and colleague, the hon. member for Berthier--Montcalm. I believe that the Minister of Justice, the government opposite and all the members of this House should pay attention to what he said. We can only recognize his professionalism in reviewing the young offenders bill, the anti-gang legislation and the other bills introduced by the Minister of Justice.

Our justice critic is concerned, as are an increasing number of people, by the haste surrounding the tabling of this bill. Yes, there is some urgency in this context of real terrorism, but there are also considerations relating to this bill that deserve our attention.

I would like to ask the hon. member for Berthier--Montcalm if, in his opinion it could be risky to pass this bill quickly. The government is saying it is a matter of days and hours. Should we take time to consult experts to make sure that this bill is everything we want it to be?

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is a very important matter and I believe that in such a matter, improvisation, fear, haste and rushed action are all ill-advised. We must take the time to examine this extraordinary bill. I believe that a bill of its kind is rarely passed in a parliament such as ours.

What is first and foremost is that we must not improvise. We must pass a piece of legislation that attempts to maintain a degree of balance between national security and individual and collective rights and freedoms. The drawbacks must be addressed. As the bill is worded at this time, I believe that these run contrary to certain rights and freedoms. Our sights must be readjusted.

What does please me, and at the same time reassures me, is that yesterday the Prime Minister said that the committee would examine this question and listen to what people have to say and that it will be empowered to amend those clauses which go too far or involve goals the government is not interested in attaining. For instance, one or more of the definitions contained in the bill might affect the labour movement and those taking part in illegal walkouts. I do not believe that the objective of this bill is to consider them as terrorist groups. All that needs doing is to review the definition and perhaps tighten it up a bit, bringing it more in line with the objective, which is to combat terrorism.

This is not something that can be done overnight. Pushing the bill through at full speed is not the way to do it. We must take our time. Time is something we have here in this House, as well as in the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, to examine this bill along with specialists and people who are used to working with the charter of rights and freedoms and similar legislation. We will then be able to shape legislation that is more acceptable and that particular strikes a balance between national security and individual and collective rights and freedoms.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member will have six minutes left for questions and comments after oral question period.

Dystonia

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, dystonia is a neurological disorder that can disable its victims with painful and involuntary muscle spasms. Sadly the cause of dystonia remains a mystery. This little known disease often goes undiagnosed in patients causing them deep psychological distress, emotional withdrawal and isolation from the rest of society.

Fortunately the families and friends of those who suffer from this devastating disorder have formed the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to create a greater awareness of dystonia, to discover the cause of the disease and to eventually find a cure.

In support of this dedicated group, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in proclaiming the week of October 14 to 21 to be National Dystonia Awareness Week. During this time we call upon all Canadians to learn more about dystonia, how to recognize its symptoms and how to treat those who suffer from the disorder. The more we understand about dystonia, the closer we are to the cure.

Lisa's Law

[Bob Mills, Canadian Alliance, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced in the House a private member's bill that I hope will make a difference for children in the country. I hope Lisa's law will better ensure that the health and safety of children are at the centre of our justice system.

I hope the proposed amendments to the Divorce Act will help make sure that sexual offenders, especially those who have committed sexual offences against children, cannot use court orders to force their own children to visit them in jail.

Earlier this year I walked with two children aged five and six and their mother, Lisa Dillman, into Bowden Penitentiary. Against their wishes these children were being forced to visit their father who had committed and was convicted of terrible sexual offences.

These two children have endured a great deal of psychological trauma. They and their mother have struggled long and hard to be liberated from the terrible burden of a court system that puts their perverted father above their own safety and security. I ask that all members of the House support these amendments when Lisa's law is read again. La Presse —Radio-Canada

Gala des prix Excellence

[Carole-Marie Allard, Liberal, Laval East, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce to the House the name of the person of the year, 2001. He is Normand Legault, the owner of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The award was presented at the Gala des prix Excellence La Presse —Radio-Canada because of the success of the Grand Prix and his involvement in the world of business and in public life in Montreal.

The other winners are Christiane Germain, the chair of Développement Germain-des-Prés; Stanley Vollant, the first Native surgeon in Canada; Marie-Nicole Lemieux, contralto; Chantal Petitclerc, an athlete at the Sydney Paralympics and Freda Miller of the Montreal Neurological Institute.

I want to congratulate these people on their involvement in our society. They are truly inspiring models for Canadians. Congratulations.

Ontario Wine Industry

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the significant contribution Ontario vintners make to both the Ontario tourism industry and the Canadian economy in general.

Ontario wines meet the highest standards of quality and excellence, drawing travellers and connoisseurs from across Canada and around the globe who want to appreciate the calibre of Ontario's wines firsthand.

From the Niagara Peninsula to Prince Edward county, the vineyards of the Ontario wine industry have proven that Canadian wines have the maturity and quality to compete with the best in the world.

I encourage my colleagues and all Canadians to partake in the sights, smells and tastes of Ontario wines through the simple purchase of a bottle of wine produced in Ontario or by embarking on a breathtaking tour of the wine country.

The contribution of the Ontario wine industry to Canadian culture and the Canadian economy deserves our recognition and appreciation.

Genetically Modified Foods

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the need for a mandatory labelling system of genetically modified foods was made evident by the events of last summer. For example, we had the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors ordering major grocery chains to remove from the shelves labelled products or cover labels identifying products that are GM free.

One wonders whether it is fair to leave an issue as basic as the consumers' right to know what they eat to the whim of food retailers. Why are consumers denied the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions with regard to genetically modified foods?

I invite my colleagues in the House to give serious consideration to these questions and to support Bill C-287 when voting on it tomorrow.

Mike Harris

[Stockwell Day, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, today we learned that Premier Mike Harris of Ontario has announced his intention to step down. As premier he leaves all Canadians a rich legacy. He will long be remembered for his common sense revolution: the promises to cut taxes, balance the budget, eliminate barriers to growth and introduce work for welfare.

His ideas, which are now widely embraced, were in 1995 considered extreme. The elites scoffed, pollsters scoffed, the media scoffed, other parties scoffed and the federal Liberals are still scoffing today. However he was right, his critics were wrong and the people of Ontario agreed with him.

In government, despite extreme and sometimes violent opposition, Mike Harris delivered on his promises and more. People found it refreshing that a leader would keep his word. In 1999 he was rewarded for this with a new mandate.

On behalf of Canadians and the official opposition Canadian Alliance, I offer my hearty congratulations and thanks to Premier Mike Harris. We wish him and his family the very best.

World Food Day

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Food Day. This year's theme is “Fight hunger to reduce poverty”. Hunger is the most critical manifestation of poverty. Eliminating hunger is the first step toward reducing poverty and ensuring food for all.

Around 800 million men, women and children are chronically hungry. Hunger causes illness and death, robs people of their potential to work, cripples children's learning capacity, and undermines the peace and prosperity of nations. Raising public awareness about the problems of hunger and food insecurity is necessary in the fight against hunger.

At the World Food Summit in 1996 nations including Canada committed themselves to cutting by half the number of hungry people by 2015. This November governments, NGOs and other international agencies will meet to review the progress made and consider ways to accelerate efforts to reach this goal.

On this occasion let us strengthen our solidarity in the struggle to make sure that everyone on the planet has enough to eat.

Violence Free Week

[Robert Lanctôt, Bloc, Châteauguay, QC]

Mr. Speaker, despite the tragic events of September 11, we can still imagine a life without violence. During violence free week, held between October 14 and 20, let us encourage children, adolescents and adults to imagine a world without violence.

To this end, we must focus all our energies and our institutions. Parliamentarians, schools, community organizations and parents must join forces to create safe, violence free living, working and recreational spaces.

I would like to draw attention to the part of the campaign directed at children. Despite the current situation, we must show children that life is possible without violence.

Violence is neither normal nor justifiable. Our children must never accept violence in their life. Let us take time together to give them the greatest gift possible: a life free of violence.

Joyce Reid

[Sarmite Bulte, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of one of my constituents, Ms. Joyce Reid, who died on Friday, October 12, 2001.

Joyce was someone who believed that in addition to one's responsibilities to family and work one should also give something back to society. To that end she filled her life with volunteering for numerous community projects and political campaigns.

Joyce did not view politics with disdain. She viewed politics as an important component of a developed and civilized society. She believed that in the end politics was as good as the people who took time to participate in it.

Joyce was a tireless and dedicated volunteer in our community. Her many friends in the Swansea and High Park neighbourhoods will greatly miss her. I shall always remember her as an inspiring example of how to fully participate in and better the society one lives in.

National Co-Op Week

[Howard Hilstrom, Canadian Alliance, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this week is National Co-Op Week. Appropriately it coincides with the declaration of October 16 as World Food Day.

Canada's co-ops and credit unions play an important role in many communities across the country. This is especially true in rural Canada where co-operatives perform a vital role in the production of our nation's food.

It is fitting that the House of Commons recognize the role of co-operatives in our economy and acknowledge the fundamental part they play in putting food on our tables and on tables around the world.

Co-ops and credit unions are significant contributors to other sectors of the economy as well, with over 15 million members and 160,00 employees across Canada.

One particular credit union in Manitoba deserves special recognition. Staff members at Assiniboine Credit Union in Winnipeg give their time to numerous community activities including free business counselling to local self-employment programs.

As a member of parliament from Manitoba, I am proud to draw their community efforts to the attention of the House of Commons.

World Food Day

[Larry McCormick, Liberal, Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox And Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Food Day, the day we commemorate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the FAO, in Quebec City on October 16, 1945.

This year's theme, “Fight hunger to reduce poverty”, underscores the need to refocus attention on hunger as the first step to reducing poverty.

As Canadians we benefit from the success of an agriculture and food sector that provides us with safe and nutritious food. As a member of the FAO, Canada is a strong supporter of efforts to reduce hunger, promote sustainable agriculture and encourage the integration of developing countries into the world economy.

Still, according to the FAO, there are over 800 million people in the world facing hunger. World Food Day is an opportunity to remind us that we cannot be complacent in the fight against hunger.

Canada Post

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, October 16 is the 20th anniversary of Canada Post. While Canadians give Canada Post a passing grade in general, it gets a big fat F for failure when it comes to its treatment of its rural route mail couriers.

These couriers are the only group of workers in the country who are specifically barred from any of the basic rights that all employees are guaranteed in Canada. Subsection 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act denies rural route mail couriers the right to vacations, statutory holidays, pensions, employment insurance, Canada pension plan, health and safety legislation, or the right to free collective bargaining that all Canadians enjoy under the charter.

We should mark the 20th anniversary of Canada Post by fixing this historic injustice once and for all. The government should delete subsection 13(5) of the act and give these hardworking Canadians the rights that all Canadian workers enjoy.

Judge Michael Sheehan

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Bloc Quebecois, I wish to pay tribute to Judge Michael Sheehan, who yesterday received the Maurice Champagne rights and freedoms award from the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal.

Devastated by the death of his son, this courageous and very wise father decided to become involved by being there to listen to the distress of others and making a remarkable contribution to suicide prevention efforts.

When he speaks, Judge Sheehan reminds us that human life is what we hold most dear and that in fact people contemplating suicide do not want to die but just end their suffering.

This suffering is on the increase. Every day in Quebec there are 250 suicide attempts, five of which are fatal. In 1999, 316 women and over 1,200 men lost their life in this tragic manner.

Judge Sheehan's contribution to the prevention of suicide in Quebec is, of course, invaluable but his message is inspiring as well and helps to demystify this sad reality.

NATO Parliamentary Assembly

[Carolyn Parrish, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held its annual meeting in Ottawa over Thanksgiving weekend. Delegates from all our NATO allies and associate countries were lavish in their praise of all aspects of the conference, including security.

I take this opportunity to thank everyone whose hard work helped create a world class event. I include yourself, Mr. Speaker. Along with your colleague from the upper chamber you were kind enough to host a spectacular reception in the Centre Block which featured Canadian talent and foods.

While many of my colleagues were happy to contribute, I should make special mention of the member for Don Valley East and the member for Toronto Centre--Rosedale. Both made excellent presentations to committees of the assembly. I particularly thank the Prime Minister for opening the plenary session with a powerful and moving speech.

Finally, I thank the employees of the House of Commons and Senate who worked tirelessly on the conference as well as the RCMP and Ottawa police services. It was a proudly Canadian event.

Week Without Violence

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, October 14 to October 20 marks the YWCA's Week Without Violence. Created by the YWCA in 1995, the Week Without Violence now spans over 50 countries and has become part of an international commitment to eradicate violence in all its forms.

This week organizers will be challenging thousands of Canadians across the country to imagine their lives without violence by engaging communities in a variety of activities and dialogues around violence and its prevention.

Last year 33,600 children, youth and adults participated in hundreds of these activities at over 300 schools in 600 communities. With the publicity it received the message of the YWCA's Week Without Violence reached over five million Canadians.

As one of the largest and oldest women's service organizations in Canada, the YWCA is Canada's largest provider of shelters to women and children. It has been its longstanding commitment to bring an end to all forms of violence. I thus encourage all Canadians and parliamentarians to play their part in ensuring that the Week Without Violence will last all year long.

Breast Cancer

[Jeannot Castonguay, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to announce to the House and to all Canadians that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer is a serious health problem for Canadian women. The federal government is concerned about the physical and psychological suffering caused by this disease.

In 1992, the federal government launched a $25 million initiative through Health Canada to combat breast cancer. In June 1998, the federal government renewed its commitment to the Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative by announcing stable, ongoing funding of $7 million annually.

Thanks to federal leadership and with the help of a national network of devoted partners, we are working to reduce the incidence and mortality of breast cancer and to improve the quality of life of women affected by it.

My congratulations to all those who are devoting their time and energy to this serious health problem.

Anti-terrorism Act

[Stockwell Day, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, one month ago, at our earliest opportunity, the official opposition moved a motion to enact anti-terrorism legislation similar to the bill introduced yesterday by the government.

What specifically was it about the Canadian Alliance motion that justified the government wasting one month before coming around to the Canadian Alliance arguments in favour of introducing an anti-terrorism bill?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the government does its homework in all circumstances. Unlike the opposition, however, we do it before we introduce bills.

A bill such as this calls for a great deal of thought and study so that we can strike a balance between the protection of Canadians' fundamental rights and freedoms and their safety. We are not here to seize opportunities as they go by, but to introduce excellent bills.

[Stockwell Day, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, we have still had no specific answer.

We are left wondering about this anti-legislation law but we support some of it. When it is enacted will it make much difference for terrorist organizations operating in Canada?

Under the new law, even if bin Laden's band of murderers, al-Qaeda, is named as a terrorist group, his followers across Canada could still stand and proudly declare that they are members of that group. Could the Prime Minister explain that to us?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the Leader of the Opposition should know, if there were supporters of al-Qaeda in the country, if they participated in, if they contributed to, if they facilitated, if they instructed or if they harboured in relation to any of the activities of al-Qaeda, they in fact could be investigated, charged and prosecuted.

[Stockwell Day, Canadian Alliance, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, they can still be proud members.

In the war on terrorism many things should be done but a few things must be done. Under the bill, a terrorist convicted of a mass murder would still be eligible for parole and would definitely be free to walk around in Canada after 25 years.

Could the Prime Minister explain how this discount for mass murderers meets his test of reasonableness?