House of Commons Hansard #119 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was amendments.

Topics

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we have been saying and what Bill C-11 says. In fact the existing immigration law gives my officials that authority, wherever they have concerns as to identity, if they are concerned the individual poses any kind of a security risk or criminality risk to Canada or if they are concerned that an individual is not going to show up for his or her hearing. We can and we do detain.

Further, let me tell the leader of the official opposition that an editorial in the National Post states that “Bill C-11 gives immigration officials the authority to deny suspected terrorists access to our refugee system”. That is—

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Provencher.

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Vic Toews Canadian Alliance Provencher, MB

Mr. Speaker, the anti-terrorist legislation demonstrates the failure of the Liberal government to take appropriate steps to keep terrorists out of Canada and to extradite them as quickly as possible once they are here. The years come and go, but the terrorists always remain.

Why has the government failed to bring forward the legislation needed to ensure that terrorists are extradited promptly?

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, let me reassure the House that in fact, now some two years ago, we introduced sweeping reforms to our extradition legislation. In fact, that legislation was drafted only after detailed consultation with our allies, including the United States of America. We have some of the most modern, most efficient, most effective extradition laws in the world.

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Vic Toews Canadian Alliance Provencher, MB

Mr. Speaker, the broom obviously swept the wrong way because they are all here. The Prime Minister has repeatedly embarrassed Canadians and members of our armed forces by failing to provide them with the necessary tools to do their—

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please. It is impossible to hear the hon. member. The questions and answers are important in the House and the Speaker has to be able to hear them both in case somebody says something out of order or unparliamentary.

The hon. member for Provencher has the floor. I know it is unlikely that he will breach the rules.

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Vic Toews Canadian Alliance Provencher, MB

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has repeatedly embarrassed Canadians and members of our armed forces by failing to provide them with the necessary tools to do their international duties. He has failed to provide our police and security forces with the necessary tools to do their domestic duties. If the government is not prepared to give them the legislative tools, will he give them the resources they need?

Anti-Terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Cardigan P.E.I.

Liberal

Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I am sure my hon. colleague is well aware that the government gave a large amount of resources to the RCMP, included in, since the last budget, just under $2 billion for public safety.

There is also all the technology that is required, with CPIC and many other instruments used by police in this country the envy of police forces around the world.

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

November 27th, 2001 / 2:20 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of National Defence made the statement that the military zones created by the public safety act will be used only to protect military property, such as military aircraft at a commercial airport.

From a reading of the bill, however, it is obvious that the military security zones could be far broader than the government is letting on.

Will the Prime Minister admit that with such a law, the Minister of National Defence could make the entire national capital region a military security zone?

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, we have a bill before the House. The hon. member is looking for trouble where there is none. I am convinced that the government's intention is not to do what he says could be done.

The solution is to go before the committee, where the hon. members will look at the problem—

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC

Yes, and they will make recommendations. We have already accepted some and will accept others. There must, however, be no exaggerated attempts at scare tactics, such as the hon. member is attempting to engage in at this time.

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is not a question of scare tactics. A bill is not judged on its intentions, but on its content.

It is clear in this bill that the Minister of National Defence can, if he sees fit, declare a zone as a military security zone for international relations, defence or national security. This could, for instance, be the case during a G-20 meeting for the entire national capital region. The City of Gatineau is part of that region and is part of the territory of Quebec.

Does this mean that the Mmnister of defence could order that the army be sent to Gatineau without even asking the government of Quebec to request its deployment to Gatineau? Is that what this means?

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, scare tactics again. Anyway, Gatineau is in Canada, like Ottawa is.

The security of all citizens is important, both those in Quebec and those in the rest of Canada. We are all citizens of the same country and entitled to the same protection by the central government of this country.

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely nothing in Bill C-42 that would limit the size of a military security zone, and the Prime Minister has just confirmed this for us.

Could the Prime Minister indicate where in the bill it states that a military security zone could not cover the entire area of Toronto, for example, or the Montreal urban community or the whole of Quebec? Where in the bill is this written?

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, I think there is a great amount of exaggeration going on in these kinds of questions. It says quite clearly in the draft legislation that “the Minister shall ensure that its dimensions are not greater than is reasonably necessary to ensure...safety and security”.

We are talking about military equipment, as they have said, by and large, and that kind of thing. The kinds of powers that exist here already exist in law. The police have these kinds of authorities but in a case of military equipment and property that may be off a base, it would give the minister of defence that same authority. There are no additional powers.

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

Mr. Speaker, we have not exaggerated anything at all and I challenge the minister to show me where in the bill it shows that we are exaggerating.

Given the powers granted to the minister in Bill C-42, combined with the powers in the anti-terrorism bill, is the government not in the process of acquiring powers that, curiously, are starting to look much like the powers that were exerted over Quebec City in the 1970s?

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

York Centre Ontario

Liberal

Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence

Absolutely not, Mr. Speaker. Again, as I pointed out, in this time where there are concerns about terrorist activities, if there is military equipment that is off a military base, such as a ship visiting in one of our harbours or aircraft that may be visiting, this provides, on the recommendation of the chief of defence staff to the minister of defence, for a cordoning off of an area, a minimal area necessary for security of that environment so that we can make sure there is the kind of protection Canadians would expect us to provide.

Science and TechnologyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

NDP

Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS

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

Scientific developments have put the issue of human cloning squarely on the front burner.

New Democrats support stem cell research, but we strenuously oppose this research being in the grip of corporate interests that are already demanding patents to profit from the very building blocks of life.

Does the Prime Minister oppose the commercialization of the creation of life itself, and if so, will he move quickly and decisively to introduce legislation to that effect?

Science and TechnologyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP should know that there is a bill that is in front of a committee at this time. All the views of members of her party and the other parties will be expressed there. I hope that they will make a recommendation to the government on the bill quickly so that we will be in a position to proceed in the House of Commons with the legislation that is already in front of a House of Commons committee.

Science and TechnologyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

NDP

Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS

Mr. Speaker, there is no legislation before the House of Commons. There is a draft proposal before the health committee, eight years after legislation was promised.

There are at least 16 patent applications currently before the Canadian patent office, mainly from American biotech firms.

The government is already presiding over the commercialization of health care. The government is already in the pockets of the multinational drug companies.

Is the Prime Minister ready to literally sell off our birthright to the government's corporate backers?

Science and TechnologyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

It looks like the member had a tough weekend, Mr. Speaker, and she is moving to the left now but there is a big division there.

The hon. member can go in front of the committee and there will be one NDP member to say something and there will be another one to say something else.

Public Safety ActOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Joe Clark Progressive Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

That is another cheap shot, Mr. Speaker. The Prime Minister today cut off debate on amendments to protect citizens against a power grab by ministers.

His new bill, Bill C-42, gives the government even broader powers over citizens. Ministers unilaterally can declare an emergency, they can define the emergency and they can take emergency measures. The orders do not have to be approved by cabinet for 90 days. They do not have to be publicized for another 23 days.

Is the Prime Minister going to use closure and time allocation to shut down debate on this new bill too?