Bill Graham

[Iraq, January 29th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we have done nothing but push our allies in the direction of making sure that we are strengthening the single most important institution that will be the bulwark for world peace for generations to come, and that is the United Nations Security Council, which the Prime Minister has been supporting since August when he spoke to President Bush. It has been our consistent policy. There is nothing on this side of the House except that which we can take pride in, guaranteeing the preservation and in fact the strengthening of international institutions for the benefit of all the world.

[Iraq, January 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has answered this question clearly. He has said that we will be consulting the House. We in this government have always consulted the House.

The bottom line for the government is to keep in mind its responsibilities toward the Canadian public that elected us. We will be assuming our responsibilities as a government in consultation with the House, as we have in the past.

[Export of Military Goods, December 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the annual report on export of military goods from Canada for 2001.

[Foreign Affairs, December 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, five multilateral treaties and one bilateral treaty that were entered into force for Canada in 2001.

I notice that these treaties are actually in CD-ROM format, so we are moving into the information age. I know all members of the House will be happy to hear that.

[Foreign Affairs, December 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, consular cases are always extremely complicated. I want to assure the hon. member that the government is doing its best in the interests of Mr. Arar and his family to get him back. We should not engage in politics in the House about the matter, which may or may not be productive in that respect.

[Foreign Affairs, December 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the hon. member and the House that we are remaining in constant contact with the Syrian authorities to ensure that we have consular access to Mr. Arar. Our ambassador has met with him. We will continue to make sure that he receives consular access. We are making all representations possible to try to get the return of Mr. Arar to his family and to Canada as soon as possible.

[Middle East, December 10th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, clearly it would be premature for me to speak about anything before the committee has made a decision on this matter. However I totally reject the premise of the member's question that we have been doing nothing on the diplomatic front to advance peace in the area.

The Prime Minister spoke to the president personally about this matter. I have met on many occasions with Secretary Powell. We have worked through G-8. We have worked through every conceivable format we know to ensure that this matter is handled through the Security Council in a way which guarantees the maximum opportunity for us to have a peaceful resolution of this matter.

[Middle East, December 10th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, far be it from me to interfere in the committee's work. I would assume that the committee would take a responsible look at any suggestion and ways in which we could advance the desire of all people to have peace in the Middle East.

However, at the moment this is in the hands of the United Nations. It is under the Security Council. I do not believe Canadians would want to be in any way interfering or stepping between what is being successfully pursued at the Security Council at this time.

[Terrorism, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as the Solicitor General has told the House, it is his responsibility and it is the government's responsibility to ensure the safety of Canadians and we will continue to do that.

It is my job to advise the Solicitor General of foreign policy issues, which include guaranteeing peace where possible but suppressing terrorism through our international conduct. The statements made by the sheik yesterday made it very clear that we have to factor that into our decision and we will do that.

I am confident that the Solicitor General and the cabinet will deal with this matter in the interests of security for Canadians, our allies and the development of peace around the world.

[An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Cruelty to Animals and Firearms)and Firearms Act, December 6th, 2002]

moved:

That, in relation to the amendments made by the Senate to Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals and firearms) and the Firearms Act, this House concur with the Senate's division of the bill into two parts, namely, Bill C-10A, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (firearms) and the Firearms Act, and Bill C-10B, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals), but

that the House, while disapproving any infringement of its rights and privileges by the other House, waives its rights and privileges in this case, with the understanding that this waiver cannot be construed as a precedent; and

that a Message be sent to the Senate to acquaint Their Honours therewith.