House of Commons Hansard #96 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was security.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, are we prepared for the worst? Today, the leader of my coalition wrote the Minister of Health requesting that he report to the House on his action plan against bioterrorism.
When interviewed last evening, the minister spoke along those same lines in stating that “Canadians are entitled to expect their government to have a solid action plan”.
Could the minister tell us if he will accept the invitation from my leader and finally share his action plan with the House?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the plan is clear. We at Health Canada are working at this time in conjunction with my cabinet colleagues, the caucus and my provincial and territorial counterparts to prepare Canada for any threat.
We have stockpiled antibiotics and vaccines. We have enhanced our surveillance systems. We have stepped up our capacity to communicate with other stakeholders in Canada and elsewhere. We are constantly working to solve these problems.
Art Hanger Canadian Alliance Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, on Monday night an individual by the name of Muhammad Sabir arrived at the Calgary airport. In his possession he had phony passports and travel documents in different names other than his own. Investigations revealed that his name was actually Hussein Shafquat, who was granted refugee status in 1999.
My question is for the minister of immigration. Since Sabir, or Shafquat, whatever his name is, has landed immigrant status in the country, will the minister assure this House and the people of the country that he--
ImmigrationOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, first let me repeat what my colleague the solicitor general has said and that is that it is extremely important that we not do or say anything inside or outside of this House that would jeopardize an investigation or a successful prosecution.
What I can tell the member opposite is that if someone, anyone, comes to Canada and obtains permanent residence status or in fact citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation, we have the authority in the law to take that status away and that is exactly what we do.
Art Hanger Canadian Alliance Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, too often this minister has hidden behind rhetoric as to what she is doing and not doing in this House and in her portfolio. She has never offered assurances to the people of this country about security matters and how she is going to handle them in her department.
Again I will ask the minister specifically, will she give assurances to the people and the House that Sabir will not be released and that his status will be revoked?
Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, that party has consistently tried to equate refugees with criminals or refugees with terrorists, so I say shame on them. That is absolutely the wrong thing to be doing at this time or at any time.
Further, that is the party that voted against Bill C-11. That is the party that tried to restore appeal rights when we wanted to streamline the procedure. They know the rules and the law and whenever we have evidence where we can remove status, we do that.
Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, the world money laundering conference concludes today in Montreal. At least $30 billion left Canada last year for three tax havens recognized by the OECD.
Can the Minister of Finance guarantee that not one cent of this $30 billion was used to finance terrorism?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, it is fairly clear that the Minister of Finance, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, certainly does not have this information. If it does exist, it is a matter for the police.
Michel Bellehumeur Bloc Berthier—Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Finance realize that his lack of willingness continues to make it impossible to know whether the $30 billion invested in these tax havens, which his government encourages, have been or are being used to finance terrorism?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, as far as financing terrorism is concerned, the Government of Canada, with the Minister of Justice's omnibus bill and by freezing terrorists assets from the start, as the United Nations required, led the way and will continue to do so.
When we look at the OECD initiative on tax havens and the Government of Canada's ability to act in the area, we see very clearly that, of all the G-7 countries, Canada is the one providing leadership, and we will continue to do so.
Myron Thompson Canadian Alliance Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, last Sunday it was reported that customs officers nationwide had stepped up their screening of all mail entering the country following the anthrax death in Florida. A customs spokeswoman indicated that customs officers were fully trained and equipped to deal with packages containing anthrax.
I learned just this morning that the guidelines on how to screen for anthrax are being issued today, four days later. Why would the minister's spokeswoman deliberately and dangerously mislead Canadians?
Martin Cauchon LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we all know that in Canada we have a very good customs system. Of course people have been trained, first in regard to seaports, airports and the land border in order to make sure that they keep Canadians safe as well as keeping the border open for trade.
Regarding the item to which the hon. member just referred, I can confirm to the House that a number of telephone conversations took place with the aid of all the departments across Canada in order to make sure we deal with the situation appropriately.
Myron Thompson Canadian Alliance Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, that does not clear up anything. The customs spokeswoman, Colette Gentes-Hawn also stated that “our officers are aware of what has to be done in these type of situations”.
If our customs officers are getting the instructions only today on how to handle dangerous substances, including anthrax, what has Canada Customs been up to until today? Can the minister reassure Canadians that anthrax has not already arrived in Canada?
Martin Cauchon LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, as usual the only thing I can say is that all the necessary procedures are in place in order to make sure that we keep our Canadian society safe. People at the land border, airports and seaports have been trained properly.
I would also like to remind the hon. member that last week we announced additional money, additional resources, to make sure we fulfil our duty.
Having said that, I would advise the hon. member and all members opposite to get involved with the government in order to help us reform the system and keep helping Canadians in trade as well as on the security side.
Judi Longfield Liberal Whitby—Ajax, ON
Mr. Speaker, today Canada will begin hosting the 12th inter-American conference of ministers of labour here in Ottawa.
I would like to ask the Minister of Labour to explain Canada's overall objectives. Could she tell the House what she hopes will be accomplished over the next two years?
Claudette Bradshaw LiberalMinister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, at the Quebec summit of the Americas, the Prime Minister and the ministers of labour developed an action plan. This week we have 28 countries from the Americas here to do that work. We will be looking at the ILO declaration. We will be looking at modernizing labour ministries. We will also be looking at the labour dimension of globalization and free trade.
It is a pleasure for Canada, and we will be honoured to chair this conference over the next two years.
Jim Gouk Canadian Alliance Kootenay—Boundary—Okanagan, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government has announced it will be spending $79 million to enhance security at Canada's airports. The majority of that money, $55.7 million, will be for enhanced electronic security equipment.
Could the minister tell the House if that is scheduled for all airports in Canada and, if not, what categories of airports are being considered?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, obviously as this machinery comes on line in the coming weeks and months it will be applied to the most sensitive parts of the country and the airports with the highest passenger inflows, the major international airports across the country, and then gradually will cover as many airports as is practical.
Jim Gouk Canadian Alliance Kootenay—Boundary—Okanagan, BC
Mr. Speaker, most of us have heard the old adage that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link but obviously the minister has not. State of the art equipment at major airports does absolutely nothing to enhance safety if terrorists board aircraft at airports with no radar or x-ray security whatsoever, then fly into a major airport and disembark on the secure side.
Why does the minister think that enhanced equipment will make flights safer if some passengers can avoid it and fly in from small, unequipped airports?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that when that is the case those people in transit are required to go through security at the larger airports.
Stéphan Tremblay Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean—Saguenay, QC
Mr. Speaker, on this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the federal government's record remains poor.
On September 26, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees made an urgent appeal to raise the $390 million required to provide aid to the two million Afghani refugees.
Canada sent only $1.2 million, the equivalent of the budget for two days.
How can the government claim to be serious and responsible, when its reaction to this current crisis and the money allocated to it are completely derisory? And does it plan to announce additional humanitarian assistance soon?
Maria Minna LiberalMinister for International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, it is important to keep in mind that the announcement made by the UN was a worst case scenario which meant that the borders were open and there were millions more people getting out and going into the refugee area.
At the moment, for the majority, there has been no great movement from within leaving Afghanistan. The issue is to try to get food inside Afghanistan, and we are working on the logistics.
I have restrengthened the people on the ground within my organization and we are working with others. That will indicate the kind of decision we will have to make in the next couple of days.
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Francophonie.
What is the government's reaction to the postponement of the Francophone Summit in Beirut, whose theme “Cultural Dialogue” was particularly appropriate and, I would say, contextual, in these turbulent times?
Ronald J. Duhamel LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification)(Francophonie)
Mr. Speaker, that summit was a very important one in the current context. The Prime Minister and myself were very disappointed, because we were all set to go to Beirut.
Unfortunately, we did not go. A decision was made, which we accept; we understand the reasons, but we will nevertheless continue to pursue the Canadian government's objectives, such as that of combatting terrorism.
I might add that the summit was merely delayed. Another Francophone Summit will be held in the fall of 2002, in the same country where it was to be held this year.