House of Commons Hansard #18 of the 37th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was turkey.

Topics

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:05 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am really worried about what we have done in the House of Commons with regard to this bill.

I did a research paper from the University of California, Berkeley. That research paper, and others who helped me, showed that the first marijuana cigarette that a person smokes goes into the brain cells and stays there for nine days. It affects the way one thinks, the way one feels, and one's whole attitude.

Also, I had worked at a church before I came up here. There were 23 young people who came from the local high school every day at noon hour and a man gave them marijuana every day. He gave it to them until they became addicted, and it is addictive. This is something I do not think the government realizes.

I told the minister of my church that I was going to go out and tell those kids that I would buy them hot dogs and pop and that I would bring them in. However, they could not smoke up before this. If they smoked up afterwards, we would not call the police. I said that I wanted to see if we could get them out of the alleyway.

It took a few weeks, but we finally got them out of the alleyway and we were able to get them away from the man who wanted them to pay for their marijuana.

Five Christmas Eve's ago my doorbell rang back home. I went to the door and this gentleman was standing there. He said, “Mrs. Wayne, do you remember me?” I told him that his face was familiar. He told me that his mom and dad were in the car and that he had just came back from Toronto. I said, “Your Tony” and I asked him what he was doing. He told me that he was a draftsman in Toronto. He said that if I had not taken him out of that alleyway, he would be laying there now on cocaine.

If they do get caught with a small amount of marijuana, they should get a penalty, and they will be pardoned. We have been able to pardon some. I do not understand how anyone on the government side could say it is all right for them to have--

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

I am sorry to interrupt the member, but we have to give an opportunity for the hon. member to answer.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would answer my colleague across the House that her message that it is all right, is the wrong message. It is not all right. Every time a member in the House, who is credible--

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

We never said it's all right. What you have done is wrong.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON

--goes out and says that it is all right, they are giving the wrong message. The message is that it is not all right, and that is what we have to say. Contributing to the wrong message does not solve the problem. What we have to do is comply with our international obligations.

We have the single convention on narcotic drugs, the convention on psychotropic substances and the convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Canada is party to all three of these international conventions dealing with illegal drugs. These treaties require the member countries to prohibit certain activities, including the production, trafficking, import and export of drugs. Countries do and must provide adequate penalties, including imprisonment for serious drug offences.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

Paddy Torsney Liberal Burlington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like to be clear. While we are sitting here having this discussion, the member opposite is accusing me of being high or using illegal substances. That is absolutely and totally inappropriate. It does not add to the debate and it is factually incorrect. She should be asked to apologize. People can have differences of opinion without being accused of doing illegal acts.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

If I could get the attention of the hon. member for Saint John, if the allegation that the hon. member for Burlington has just raised is true, on your word, on your honour, if it is true, I would like you to apologize.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

What I did was I asked her if she was high.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

No, I am asking you, if it is true, I ask you to apologize.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

I said, Mr. Speaker--

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

The hon. member for Saint John, do you want to repeat what you have just said please?

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

Do I want to repeat?

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

Yes.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

No.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

What you just said because I did not hear you.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

Mr. Speaker, I asked the member if she was high because she was screaming and hollering at me because of my comments, and you did not hear her comments either. There was a debate between the two of us, which I do not think anyone likes.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

It is apples and oranges.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Paddy Torsney Liberal Burlington, ON

She said, “Are you high?” That is illegal.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

That is the question I am asking the hon. member for Saint John again. Have you accused the hon. member for Burlington of being high?

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

I asked the question. I did not say she was. I asked the question, Mr. Speaker, because of the things she was saying to me.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Richard Marceau Bloc Charlesbourg—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

When I applauded the hon. member for Burlington at the end of her speech, the hon. member for St. John turned to me and said, “So you're high too?”

I find it totally inappropriate for the hon. member for St. John to say something like that to those among her colleagues who do not share her opinions. I think the hon. member should at least apologize to the hon. member for Burlington and myself. To accuse members of Parliament of being under the influence of illicit drugs when we are debating such a serious issue is totally inappropriate.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

The Chair is in a delicate position, because it will probably be impossible to check the blues to find out what exactly the hon. member for St. John said.

Since it would be extremely difficult to agree on such a thing, if both members are agreeable, we will proceed with the recorded division.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Paddy Torsney Liberal Burlington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you review the blues and revisit this matter. In fact, when the member for Saint John stood up she said, “I did say are you high?”, she has admitted that she is accusing the member opposite and myself of being intoxicated or being under the influence of illegal substances.

I want to declare right here that I am not and do not use marijuana. I think she should be asked to apologize.

Contraventions ActGovernment Orders

5:15 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

The hon. member for Saint John has just left the chamber, which does not help things at all. However, I said a while ago that it would be very difficult to verify the blues. I do not know if the gentleman in the aisle has picked up anything that the hon. member for Saint John has said. We will look at it a bit further. The case will be dealt with as soon as possible.

The House resumed consideration of the motion.