Debates of Sept. 20th, 2001

Jewish New Year

[Peter Goldring, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Centre-East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, each year at this time the arrival of the Jewish new year is welcomed. This time of reflection and renewal, starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur, is the most significant period of the Jewish calendar.

To all the Jewish faith and their families nationally and internationally, these are important personal days, a time for reflection and resolve. Perhaps more than ever this year, in the aftermath of the tragic events in America, we should recall too that Israel singularly has been at constant war against the evil of terrorism for many years.

I ask the members of the House to recognize and embrace the Jewish spirit of reflection and annual renewal. I am sure the upcoming year will be bettered by such resolve.

Terrorism

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of Lambton--Kent--Middlesex and my family, I express sincere condolences to the victims and their families in the United States and Canada who have been affected by the tragic events that took place in the United States. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the American people as they deal with this tragedy and work to rebuild not only their city but their lives.

September 11, 2001, is a day we will never forget. The rippling effects will continue for years to come. This has been a difficult time for everyone and we must grow from this experience.

The attack was not just an attack on the United States. It was an attack on Canada and other civilized countries throughout the world. We therefore must work together with other countries in the fight against terrorism.

I also recognize the efforts of thousands of firefighters, police officers, rescue workers, ambulance attendants, and volunteers from both Canada and the United States that have been working around the clock in the search for victims.

Although we may never again feel invincible, invulnerable or impenetrable, the hope for a secure future is not gone.

Human Cloning

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, throughout the summer, the issue of human cloning has been very much in the news. Voices were heard from everywhere asking to put an end to the unjustifiable legal void in this area.

Canadians are aware of the complexity of this issue and they want legislation that will cover all the scientific research in the area of assisted human reproduction.

However, they also want to be reassured, because they do not want to see aspirant cloners take refuge here to implement their morally, medically and socially unacceptable project.

This is why we must legislate as quickly as possible, because to prohibit human cloning for reproduction purposes is to protect the integrity of future generations and the dignity of childbirth.

Terrorism

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Oak Ridges, ON]

Mr. Speaker, although Canadians are deeply saddened by the events that took place in the United States on September 11, we have united to aid Americans in coping with this disaster. On behalf of the residents of my riding of Oak Ridges I express our gratitude to all Canadians who have opened their hearts and contributed to the relief effort.

I am pleased to inform the House that AMEC Construction Management Inc., a New York division of Toronto based AMEC Inc., has been retained to provide support in the cleanup effort both at the Pentagon in Washington and in New York. AMEC has delivered heavy equipment and lifting gear to support emergency services in the rescue efforts.

Specialists from AMEC are advising and assisting rescuers with the considerable challenges in developing long term plans. AMEC is one of the exceptional Canadian companies that has devoted time, skills and expertise in helping our American friends during this unfortunate tragedy.

Immigration

[Paul Forseth, Canadian Alliance, New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell issued a warning about the cost to Canada of doing little to fix our notoriously faulty people screening system.

Powell warned:

Some nations need to be more vigilant against terrorism at their borders, if they want their relationship with the U.S. to remain the same. We're going to make it clear to them that this will be a standard against which they're measured, with respect to their relationship with the United States.

The immigration minister tried yesterday to give reassurances about some money for better service worldwide, but it must be asked specifically: What better screening is in place today for the surprise arrivals who claim refugee status than there was a few weeks ago?

There are thousands of claimants of unknown background wandering the country and many are possible security risks.

I call upon the immigration minister to say how this security gap has been solved and how the government has heeded the warning of the U.S. secretary of state.

David Michael Barkway

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of Stormont--Dundas--Charlottenburgh who share an international border and a way of life with our neighbour, the United States, I express our condolences and offer our prayers to the families, friends and co-workers of the innocent victims of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

The terrorist attacks on New York City particularly hit home for us with the death of 34 year old David Michael Barkway, formerly of Cornwall and a managing director at BMO Nesbitt Burns. David was a wonderful person, devoted to his family, friends and work. He was also partial to a good cigar, a cold Guinness and a round of golf. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.

To David's wife Cindy, their two year old son James, his parents Reverend Peter and Mary Barkway of Cornwall, his brother Stephen, his in-laws Ned and Georgina McLennan of Brampton, and their extended families, my sincere condolences. No words can adequately express the sorrow shared by all of us as a result of this unjustifiable act against humankind.

Fisheries

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to express my deep disappointment and frustration with a small group of fishermen who fired 30 shots into the fishing grounds off Burnt Church earlier this week.

It is important to emphasize that the group does not represent the majority of hard working and law-abiding fishermen in the Miramichi area. I commend the leadership of the non-native commercial fishery and that of the aboriginal community for exercising restraint given the events of this week. I encourage them to continue to show restraint.

I also call upon all sides to work together toward a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis within the fishery. That means that the government must create an environment where fair and peaceful settlements are possible.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans must personally get involved with all stakeholders and other ministers and, if necessary, re-examine the existing quota allocations and management practices.

The Mounties were not able to prevent this week's raid. Nor have any arrests been made. In order to create an environment where peaceful settlements are possible, the government must commit the needed resources to enforcement.

I call for the minister to get personally involved because in Burnt Church nobody should die over lobsters.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today marked the opening in Toronto of the meeting of the Canadian Council of Ministers of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Quebec's minister of agriculture, fisheries and food plans to use the occasion to remind the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans of a few principles, one of them being that intergovernmental agreements between responsible governments must not be ignored, as they were when the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans made his recent decision to give 18% of the turbot quota to fishers in Newfoundland, when historically their share had never exceeded 8%.

In 1995, the department established a share which, it said, was temporary. Since then, Quebec's share represents a loss of 2,000 tonnes of turbot, worth $6 million post plant, and at least 100 seasonal jobs.

The Bloc Quebecois is calling for mechanisms to manage the fisheries that will limit political influence and the discretionary power of the minister so that management of the fishery is more transparent, fairer and more consistent.

Alzheimer's Disease

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

Mr. Speaker, Alzheimer's is a neurological disorder that gradually leaves the brain unable to reason, to remember, to imagine or to learn.

It affects one Canadian in thirteen over the age of 65. However, a recent world breakthrough made possible through funding from Canada's health research institutes, the primary federal health research body in Canada, is renewing hope in the fight to vanquish this disease.

Recently, Dr. Peter St. George-Hyslop and his team at the University of Toronto Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases discovered a vaccine which may help to prevent and treat memory loss and the disabling cognitive impairment of Alzheimer's disease.

If the results of their laboratory studies can be verified in human subjects, the vaccine could play a vital role in eradicating the disabling dementia associated with this disease.

The next stage will consist of preliminary studies to verify the safety of the vaccine before large scale testing to determine its therapeutic effectiveness is begun.

The researchers believe that clinical testing on human subjects could begin this year and, if it is conclusive, that a drug could be available within four years.

By investing in research today, Canadians will reap the benefits in the future.

Immigration

[Inky Mark, Canadian Alliance, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Lucy Lu has been hiding in a basement of a church in Kingston since last November fearing deportation by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. To date the minister has refused to even hear what Ms. Lu has to say in her defence.

Lucy Lu is not asking for anything that is impossible of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. She is seeking a stay of deportation on humanitarian and compassionate grounds with full community support.

Terrorist Ahmed Ressam was ordered out of the country and no one even bothered to look for him for two years. Lucy Lu is in plain sight and she cannot get anyone from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration to even call her. Just how big a threat could Lucy Lu be to the Canadian public?

Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the organizers and entertainers of the 11th Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival which took place in Fredericton from September 12 to 16. This year's event, which had over 50,000 people in attendance, was a true test of the festival's strength due to the tragic events in the United States.

After considerable contemplation the festival went forward with taste, respect, and provided a much needed diversion in our community during a time of pain, shock and horror.

This speaks to the quality of leadership in the organization, the flexibility of the volunteers and the generosity of the entertainers, many having pulled double duty due to the fact that other groups could not fly into Fredericton.

I thank them on behalf of the people of Fredericton who found some normalcy in a world we did not recognize.

Agriculture

[Roy H. Bailey, Canadian Alliance, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it costs a farmer out in our country about $4,800 to dig a water dugout for his cattle. Normally he could apply for and receive one-third of that, or $1,600, from the government through the PFRA, but like the drought that money has dried up.

While the government said it had no money, it found $4 million and handed it out to NGOs to attend a racist conference in Durban. How did Canada benefit from our own taxpayers' dollars? We got insulted by being labelled racists.

That $4 million would have supported the construction of 2,500 dugouts in the parched regions of Canada. The government has stopped the flow of money in the heart of cattle country, where the water supply is imperative.

The government will not help to ensure that we have enough water for next year, yet it seems that it has found money to fund its own grandiose schemes in conferences with questionable benefits to Canadians.

Terrorism

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

Mr. Speaker, recently the FBI, incredibly, has arrested one of its prime suspects in the whole issue surrounding the bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon bombing. His name is Nabil Al-Marabh. He has been linked by the FBI to two of the hijackers. He shared a phone number with them. He was identified as a bin Laden operative at a trial in Jordan.

This morning, incredibly, we have learned that Al-Marabh has been a refugee claimant in Canada since 1994 and was living in Toronto as recently as six weeks ago.

Does the Prime Minister still maintain that there is no Canadian connection in the U.S. investigation of this terrible activity?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that an individual who was in Canada for a period of time was arrested by U.S. authorities. This is an ongoing investigation. At this time there is still no evidence of a direct link between Canada and what took place in New York.

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

Mr. Speaker, they are really pushing credibility. Canadians have some serious questions.

The RCMP last Thursday issued a Canada wide arrest warrant for this suspected terrorist, Al-Marabh, who is suspected of being involved in the World Trade Center bombings. This was last Thursday. They issued a Canada wide arrest warrant on the same day that the Prime Minister, the solicitor general and the head of the RCMP were maintaining that there was no Canadian connection.

Who is in charge of security on behalf of Canadians and on the government side? Who is in charge over there?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I have said many times in the House that the RCMP and CSIS are working with the FBI and the security and intelligence agencies in the U.S. They have been and will continue to do so.

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

Mr. Speaker, no answers, no answers on this serious matter. We are asking for results. We are asking for openness and honesty on behalf of the government so that we can have a sense of security.

This suspected terrorist had been accused of forging a passport here in Canada at the same time that he was demanding refugee status.

Why was he not either arrested immediately or deported instead of being able to roam free all around Toronto and who knows where else in Canada? Why was there a six week gap in terms of even identifying this?

I will ask the question again--

[The Speaker]

I am afraid the hon. member has run out of time.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure my hon. colleague does not expect that all the security intelligence information will be shared publicly. I have said many times that what has to take place is the RCMP and CSIS working with the security and intelligence agencies and the police forces in the United States to make sure the people responsible are brought to justice.

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the FBI is currently seeking some 200 suspects, potential associates of suspects and potential witnesses in connection with the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. We know that at least one of them, Nabil Al-Marabh, was a refugee claimant in Canada.

Do the RCMP and CSIS have this list of 200 wanted people and how many others on that list have they identified as having been here in Canada?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister stated the other day and I have stated a number of times, does the opposition expect the government to give out security intelligence information?

What we want to do is make sure that the people responsible for what took place in New York and Washington are brought to justice. The RCMP and CSIS are working with their counterparts to make sure that happens.

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, what the Canadian public wants to know is that CSIS and the RCMP have the list of 200. It is unfortunate that this suspected terrorist was arrested in Chicago and not in Canada.

Yesterday the minister told the House that she does not need to seek the permission of the court to extradite terrorists. In fact she must ask the court's permission and meet the rigorous test dictated by the Supreme Court.

Will the minister now correct the record and finally admit that it is the court, not she and our justice officials, that can decide whether a terrorist can be extradited?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister of Justice answered this question very clearly yesterday. This matter is now before the courts. I do not think we should say anything further about it.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, during Oral Question Period yesterday, the Prime Minister stated that Canada had had absolutely no request from the United States relating to Canada's military participation in the battle against terrorism that is about to begin. Fifty minutes after that, the United States launched Operation Infinite Justice.

In light of the Prime Minister's statements, could the government tell the public whether Canada was consulted by the United States before Operation Infinite Justice was initiated?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, pre-positioning military assets and personnel is not an unusual thing to do. There are many other times when this has been done by the United States, the biggest military power in the world. It has done this again. At the same time, it is clearly sending a message to countries that harbour terrorists. It is putting them under some pressure by pre-positioning these assets, but it is still working on the plan. We will be consulted with respect to that plan and what our contribution will be to that plan.