House of Commons Hansard #28 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.
Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, likely the pre-screening that we have had in place over the past year by our agency would result in an application like that being identified for audit.
I want to say as well to the member opposite that we have a very extensive investigations unit of 1,000 people who are experienced in these matters. It is because of their work that we are so successful with prosecutions.
Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Mr. Speaker, that is why there are millions and millions of dollars worth of abuse.
The form is really just an order form for a government cheque. People could just pencil in the amount they want and wait; $10,000, $20,000, $30,000, no paperwork involved, no documentation required, and a cheque will be in the mail.
When will the minister implement a documentation process that will even allow a minimum of accountability on these claims for government money?
Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, the member is wrong and he was not listening.
We have in place today 5,000 auditors. We began as of two years ago to increase those by some 20%. We also have an investigations unit who are experts in these fields. Two years ago we began and continue to increase that by 25%. A year ago we put in place a pre-screening of all registrant claims. Our best practices are among the best in the world.
Chuck Cadman Canadian Alliance Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, two years after being ordered deported as a failed refugee claimant, Laszlo Adorjan has been arrested for allegedly running the biggest auto theft ring in B.C. history. Interpol wants him for armed robbery and suspicion of murder. Police watched him for months, but did not even know about the deportation order.
The government is so inept at removing internationally wanted criminals from Canada that it does not even know it has them when it finds them. Why did the RCMP and the auto theft task force not know about the deportation order against this guy?
Wayne Easter LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I cannot confirm or deny what CSIS and the RCMP know on this matter. I cannot get into the operational policy matters in this particular case. That would be wrong for me to do.
Chuck Cadman Canadian Alliance Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, in 2000 Adorjan secretly married a woman after paying her $500 to sponsor him. In doing so, he abandoned his refugee claim and was ordered deported. An arrest warrant was issued.
Last week his so-called spouse said she did not know when they met. In her words she just bumped into him one day. Her sister-in-law, living two doors away, knew nothing of the marriage, yet it took until earlier this year for officials to determine that the marriage was bogus.
Could the minister explain just how it possibly can take the best part of two years to come to such an obvious conclusion that the marriage was a marriage of convenience?
Wayne Easter LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the member seems to be into some kind of case work. We believe on this side that there is due diligence of the law and people should have a right to the due diligence of the law.
I can tell the member that the RCMP and CSIS cooperate with other agencies around the world. I know they are doing their job. I cannot comment on the individual aspects of any case.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, the MacKay report tabled yesterday again raises the spectre of creating a Canadian securities commission. In Quebec, the National Assembly and the Commission des valeurs mobilières du Québec are opposed to the creation of a central agency.
Will the Minister of Finance respect the Quebec consensus and assure us that he will not go ahead with the doomed project of establishing a Canadian securities commission, which would violate the exclusive jurisdictions of Quebec and the provinces?
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, first, I want to say that Mr. MacKay, who is a lawyer from Saskatchewan, did a very good job. We have received his report, which is now available.
Mr. MacKay indicated that if one of the models that he proposed were adopted, it would up to the provinces whether or not they participated. There is no question of forcing the provinces to do anything. If they want to continue to have a limited market in their province, it is up to them.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, does the minister realize that the threat of this doomed project adversely affects the harmonization work that securities experts have already begun and is therefore detrimental to small shareholders?
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I do not think that that is the case. I think that the work done by Mr. MacKay was requested by interested groups and was well received by several provinces. I hope that all the provinces will participate in finding ways to improve securities regulation in Canada.
Rob Anders Canadian Alliance Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, the United States is requesting our JTF2 forces be sent over to Iraq, as they were in Afghanistan.
The government announced last year it would double JTF2. Unfortunately, even the department admits this is just another unfulfilled promise.
A potential conflict in Iraq is looming large and the government is clearly unprepared to handle it.
Why has the government failed to complete the expansion of Canada's top counterterrorism force?
John O'Reilly LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, any request by the United States for us to take part in any operation would be very premature to talk about because the United States has not asked us yet.
Rob Anders Canadian Alliance Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, it gets worse. The Liberal record of neglect and mismanagement continues.
In the Kosovo air campaign, Canada contributed 18 CF-18s and flew a total of 678 combat sorties.
Today Canada would only be able to send two war planes and our army could not even last six months. Canada used to be a force, now it is simply a farce.
How can the government pretend that things are improving when three years ago we sent 18 planes and now we are down to only two?
John O'Reilly LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, once again the member is very poorly informed. Our CF-18s are being refitted. They are very capable aircraft.
Any time that the government is asked to respond to international terrorism or to war, whether it is Kosovo, Bosnia or anywhere, we respond with professional people and do a job that the world thanks us for.
Janko Peric Liberal Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Internationally, Canada has been leading a movement to preserve and enhance national cultures at a time of increasing globalization.
What is the Minister of Canadian Heritage doing to preserve and enhance cultural communities in our own country?
Sheila Copps LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the member for Cambridge for his particular interest in this issue.
I would like to underscore that the International Network on Cultural Policy founded by Canada will be hosting a very important meeting next year in Croatia. I know the member, with his unique interest in the Croatian community in Canada, will also make sure that the message on cultural diversity includes Canadian diversity and not simply international diversity.
John M. Cummins Canadian Alliance Delta—South Richmond, BC
Mr. Speaker, a briefing document prepared earlier this year for the minister responsible for the Coast Guard advised:
The Coast Guard does not have a mandate for maritime security and the events of September 11 have not altered this.
Is it the position of the government that the Coast Guard lacks a mandate for maritime security?
Robert Thibault LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, it is the position of the government that the Coast Guard works for the Department of Transport, with National Defence, the RCMP, the CCRA, and all other government agencies, on a very appropriate level of national security.
John M. Cummins Canadian Alliance Delta—South Richmond, BC
Mr. Speaker, that sounds like a mandate to me. A mandate means resources to do the job. The Coast Guard has less resources today than it did when the memo was written. Today there is no fuel for its ships and no uniforms for the crews.
How can the Coast Guard contribute to maritime security when its ships and crews cannot put to sea?
Robert Thibault LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, once again he continues in his comedy of errors. The Coast Guard is fully fuelled. It is capable of going to sea if needed. In an effort to save expenses, to be responsible with our budget, we have asked that it curtail unnecessary movements. The primary responsibility for maritime security is with the Minister of Transport. We support it, as well as the RCMP, the military and all other agencies.
Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, American pressure on Canada to join a coalition to attack Iraq is mounting. After the diplomatic representations by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell last week, the United States has now officially asked Canada to contribute to the war effort.
While the government feels that the ratification of Kyoto is a matter worth debating and voting on in the House, and we agree, does the minister not believe, as does Tony Blair who just made a decision to that effect in Great Britain, that a matter as serious as a war—
IraqOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Don Boudria LiberalMinister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, we are having regular meetings, on a weekly basis, of House leaders, at which time various themes for debate are suggested, among other things. I sincerely urge the hon. member to discuss this issue with the House leader for her party. In my opinion, he is doing a fine job and could represent these views at the House leaders' meeting about having this as a theme for debate, if the wish is there.
Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry and the minister responsible for infrastructure.
As the minister knows, my constituents in the communities of northern Ontario are pressing for the completion of the four lanes on Highway 69. It is a matter of health and safety for travellers and of economic development for the region.
Could the minister tell the House whether federal funds could be made available under the Canada strategic infrastructure fund to accelerate the four lanes on Highway 69?