House of Commons Hansard #50 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was smoking.
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Chuck Cadman Canadian Alliance Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is mired in an omnibus bill. On another issue, some members of the immigrant community in my constituency paid me a visit a few weeks ago.
Their complaint was that recently introduced legislation does not go far enough. It only removes charitable status from organizations that fund terrorism. It does not stop the actual funding of terrorism.
My constituents want a law that actually makes the funding of terrorism illegal. Will the government commit to such a law in the near future?
Lynn Myers LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that the government has gone on record repeatedly condemning terrorism and the kinds of things that take place as a result of it.
We will bring in the tools necessary to ensure that we have the kind of capability to make sure that this precisely does not happen. It is a strength of the government, ensuring that it puts to rest those kinds of activities in the proper way.
John McCallum Liberal Markham, ON
Mr. Speaker, those of us who think that Canada should increase foreign aid to less developed countries were dismayed to read in the press that in fact we seem to be going the other way.
Our overseas development assistance which was 0.28% of gross domestic product in 1999 fell to 0.25% last year. Could the minister explain to the House what is going on?
Maria Minna LiberalMinister for International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, the government increased the budget by $435 million in the year 2000. In fact we are doing a great deal more in development.
The economy is growing much faster and that is why there is a difference in numbers. We are doing more. In the Speech from the Throne, as all members know, there was a major commitment to increase ODA yet again for Canada. I am very hopeful that will happen.
James Moore Canadian Alliance Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, the RCMP has testified in court of a known terrorist, murderer and gangster living in Canada.
Instead of carrying though with his deportation, Mr. Rat Naval was allowed to stay in Canada because he caused a fuss during deportation when he was boarding a plane.
Why is he still in Canada? Do Canadians not deserve a better standard of public safety from the government than what we are seeing?
Mark Assad LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member knows that we do not discuss particular cases in a public forum.
The process is very simple. When serious criminality or terrorism is involved, officials seek to continue the detention of these individuals. The department also seeks detentions of those likely to disappear and those who pose a danger.
The decision to detain or release rests with an independent adjudicator of the Immigration and Refugee Board which considers case specific information before making a final decision. That is the process.
James Moore Canadian Alliance Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Rat Naval was ordered deported from Canada on April 5 and is now comfortable in his home in Markham.
As the minister makes weak excuses, public safety is being jeopardized by the government. Why is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration not doing her job? Why is she allowing known terrorists and assassins to make Canada their safe haven from justice?
Mark Assad LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, we have a process and we respect it. It is the law. If an independent adjudicator takes a specific case and renders a decision, I cannot see why we should interfere.
Pierre Brien Bloc Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the cost of gasoline is of major concern to the people of Quebec and of Canada.
The Minister of Industry seems somewhat confused about his responsibilities in this area, yet he ought to know that the Competition Act is federal.
Is the government going to recognize that the Competition Act lacks teeth and that it is high time it began to protect the citizen and consumer instead of the major oil companies?
Gasoline PricingOral Question Period
Scarborough Centre Ontario
Liberal
John Cannis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, the confusion is from the Bloc Quebecois. The Competition Act, when evidence is brought forward, acts accordingly.
A year ago there were record fines, but when it comes to gasoline pricing the member should talk to Mr. Landry. They did control the price of gasoline before. They can do it again should they wish to.
Beth Phinney Liberal Hamilton Mountain, ON
Mr. Speaker, since public safety is such an important part of our Canadian identity, could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General tell us how our public safety agencies are tapping into the goodwill of Canadian volunteers?
Lynn Myers LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, Canada is one of the safest countries in the world. This is partly due not only to our great institutions but to the people who assist those people in those institutions, especially our volunteers.
In the case of the solicitor general's portfolio, we have the largest number of volunteers who support us, people like elders, people who are supporting victims, people who are assisting offenders and people who are working with the auxiliary of the RCMP in very meaningful ways. They deserve the gratitude not only of the House but the entire nation. These are unsung heroes.
Deepak Obhrai Canadian Alliance Calgary East, AB
Mr. Speaker, the justice minister talked about victims of crime. Let us stop having victims of crime.
On May 1, I will introduce a private member's bill asking for a minimum two year sentence for repeat break and enter offenders. Eighty per cent of these crimes are committed by repeat break and enter offenders. The bill is being introduced to stop this cycle of crime and business.
I am asking the minister if she will support the bill.
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is an experienced member. He has been here several years. One would think that he would know that private members' items are just that, private members' items. He would also know that it is obviously not the position of the government to comment on the vote of any individual member on any individual item before the House at private members' hour.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, according to the auditor general, international activities by Canadian taxpayers, particularly their use of tax shelters, constitute one of the greatest threats to the tax base.
The OECD is even calling for countries that have signed tax treaties with other countries with harmful tax practices, such as Barbados, to withdraw from them.
How can the government remain unmoved by this statement from the auditor general, and why does Canada not immediately withdraw from its tax treaty with Barbados, as recommended by the OECD?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, Canada has played and continues to play a lead role within the OECD.
In this connection, as the hon. member must be aware, there is real agreement between all countries involved, that is to say all of them are going to take multilateral action, not unilateral. That is the only way to solve the problem.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I wish to draw to the attention of all hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture for the province of Nova Scotia.
Dick Harris Canadian Alliance Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, during a question period response the Minister of Finance made a statement that I know he realizes is erroneous when he said that the official opposition was spending research money on spies.
I know the Minister of Finance knows that is an incorrect statement. I will not harp on it much longer. I will ask him to withdraw that statement, which he knows is wrong.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
It sounds to me as though there is a matter of debate here. I think the way people spend money is not something that is the subject of the jurisdiction of the Chair.
Perhaps the Minister of Finance has something he would like to say to illumine the House on the subject. Otherwise I am inclined to suggest that the matter is not really a point of order.
John Cannis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, there was a question asked of me during question period by a member of the Alliance. In my response to whether Mr. Jonas Prince had received any funding, I responded that to my knowledge he had not.
I want to clarify for the record that Industry Canada, in its preliminary look, indicated that no funding was given to Mr. Jonas Prince.
Dick Harris Canadian Alliance Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, on my point of order, I did not want to debate whether the finance minister made the comment or not. Indeed, the record will show that he did. All I was asking is that he realize he made a mistake and withdraw the comment.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
I think there are always allegations made back and forth in the House, and this one sounds like maybe it was one of those, if that is the way it was. I will review the blues and if there appears to be any problem, I will certainly get back to the House.
Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Scarborough—Rouge River Ontario
Liberal
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, pursuant to the standing orders of the House, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to two petitions.