House of Commons Hansard #43 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was money.
Wayne Easter LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I would have expected the hon. member to know that Karla Homolka is in jail.
The Prime Minister, as justice minister at the time, was heavily involved in the development of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. When we bring in this legislation, we want to ensure that it abides by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and we will do that.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, Swimming Canada is threatening to suspend swimmer Jennifer Carroll, the 50-metre backstroke world short course champion, for the embarrassment—that was the word used by the Canadian team coach—she caused at the Commonwealth Games by stepping onto the podium with a Quebec flag in her hand.
Since this is not the first time that Swimming Canada and coach Dave Johnson have faced allegations of discrimination against swimmers from Quebec and the government has done nothing about it, I would like to know if the Prime Minister thinks it is right to have an athlete facing suspension for waving a Quebec flag?
Paul Devillers LiberalSecretary of State (Amateur Sport) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, this is a matter between an athlete and her national sport organization.
Sport Canada requires national organizations to have codes of discipline. This is all the information we have for now, but this is a matter between the athlete and her national organization.
My information is that the flag incident is unrelated to the athlete's situation.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, this is a public matter. The letter has been made public. The hon. secretary of state ought to follow the news and watch television.
At the Olympics in Nagano, skater Catriona Le May-Doan stood on the podium with a Saskatchewan flag. There was no penalty. With Swimming Canada, it is a different story. Jennifer Carroll is not only threatened with suspension, but she had her card and $13,000 annual allowance taken away.
Will the Prime Minister stand up against this kind of discrimination, particularly discrimination against Quebeckers? Or is he—
Paul Devillers LiberalSecretary of State (Amateur Sport) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, we have put in place a sport dispute resolution mechanism. That is the procedure we have put in place.
We do not want to get involved in the politics of this in resolving disputes, but if there is more to the issue, we are always prepared to review it.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, according to the head coach of Swimming Canada, what Jennifer Carroll did was arrogant, disrespectful, unprofessional, unfortunate and the most embarrassing thing he has seen in all of his career. And he added that her actions further upset an already fragile team.
Are we to understand from the head coach that the mere sight of the Quebec flag upsets Swimming Canada officials?
Paul Devillers LiberalSecretary of State (Amateur Sport) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I do not understand why the Bloc Quebecois is reacting in this way. From what I understand, there has been no suspension. The coach may have made some comments, but the government cannot intervene every time a coach makes comments.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, Nadine Rolland and Yannick Lupien have already gone through this, and now it is Jennifer Carroll's turn to experience the wrath of Swimming Canada. What do these athletes have in common, except for the fact that they are all elite athletes? They are Quebeckers.
What is the federal government waiting for to put an end to this discrimination, which is intolerable and unacceptable? We are not going to take it anymore.
Paul Devillers LiberalSecretary of State (Amateur Sport) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there are mechanisms in place to review disputes between national organizations and athletes. We are very satisfied with how they are working. This was established on an interim basis, but if there are further questions, we are always prepared to review this with all those involved.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
Earlier this week the foreign affairs minister made it clear that he is quite prepared to have Canada participate in America's latest star wars plan, the national missile defence scheme. Canada no sooner agrees to U.S. troops on our soil, and what is next? We fall in line with the militarization of outer space.
Could the Prime Minister tell us, is that where Canada is headed?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I do not think that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has said anything like that. As for the project of the Americans on the so-called star wars, we are not participating in that and we have not been asked to participate. It is just a hypothetical question that the hon. member is dealing with.
We have a policy that was clearly stated in the House of Commons many, many times and many months and years ago.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. The Minister of Foreign Affairs says, after signing the new military deal with the United States, that now Canada is “quite prepared” to study the star wars scheme.
I want to ask the Prime Minister this. Instead of studying this dangerous, expensive, untried technology, why will the Government of Canada not stand up for Canada and say to George Bush, “We will not be part of your new star wars scheme,” and stand up for Canadian interests instead of selling out to George Bush and his star wars scheme?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, if they ask us something, of course we are not like the member: If we have a request, we study the request, and I hope that people do before answering a question.
We have said clearly that we have not been asked. If they make a request we will look into it, but at this moment we are not interested. The policy is very clear and has been stated in the House by myself and ministers over the years.
Joe Clark Progressive Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, this Parliament has been sitting for 42 days since the throne speech. On only 14 days did the government have legislation to bring to the House. Of the 19 bills before us, 13 are recycled from the last Parliament.
I would like to ask the Prime Minister, why is the government not bringing legislation to Parliament? Is it that bills are not being proposed by cabinet? Or is it that the government House leader is not competent to steer them through the government's divided caucus?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I think our House leader is very competent. We have legislation in front of the House of Commons regularly.
I know that the leader of fifth party always is preoccupied by process and quantity. On this side of the House we are more preoccupied with the quality of our legislation, including the vote on Kyoto, which he voted against yesterday to protect his seat in Alberta.
Joe Clark Progressive Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
So far this session, Mr. Speaker, the government House leader has bungled the government's handling of the election of committee chairs. He did not consult his caucus on the ethics package and he was forced to back down. It was the same thing on campaign finance reform. Now he has bungled the issue of modernization of the House.
I understand that the Prime Minister is driven by loyalty, but in the interests of letting Parliament work, would he not consider naming a new government House leader who can manage the House and his own caucus?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I know that right hon. member very well. He just wants to attack people personally.
Here is a very dedicated, hardworking minister, who has a lot of experience in Parliament and who has done a very good job.
For Christmas, the leader of the fifth party, who is about to go soon, wanted to have another personal attack.
Stockwell Day Canadian Alliance Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, Ori Tannenbaum, travelling from the Middle East, where his ailing father is being held hostage by Hezbollah, was not showboating today. Lieutenant-Colonel Bob Chamberlain from Kingston, who was held at gunpoint by Hezbollah, was not showboating today. Daniel Eisen, speaking for missing soldiers in action, was not showboating today. B'nai B'rith was not showboating.
The only boat is the sinking Liberal ship that we look at every day. That is the only boat here. Why--
TerrorismOral Question Period
The Speaker
I do not know if we have a question, but the hon. Solicitor General may respond.
Wayne Easter LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I have no intention of and you will not see me commenting on whatever is the most popular sensationalized interest group of the day, as that member continues to do.
I can tell Canadians with great confidence that the decisions we make in terms of the listing of entities are based on criminal and security intelligence information that will stand up to the tests of appeal or the courts. That is the kind of decision I have to make and that is the kind of decision we made.
Stockwell Day Canadian Alliance Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, he wants to talks about lists and groups and evidence. The groups that were banned months ago in Canada were less known and less dangerous than Hezbollah, with far less information.
Here is Hezbollah, the A-team of terrorism, known for it worldwide, which the minister has allowed to escape with assets and funds from Canada because of his delay.
What took him so long to ban this group when it took him only a matter of weeks and months to ban less known and less dangerous groups? Why this group?
Wayne Easter LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member should keep in mind, and I believe it was in 2001, that we listed the military wing of Hezbollah under the United Nations suppression of terrorism regulations. We did that.
Today I and we as a government have an obligation under the act to make sure that our facts are absolutely accurate in terms of the listing of entities. We have done that. We have listed three entities today.
The member should be standing up and congratulating us on--