House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 65% of the vote.
Benefits May 8th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, it is the discussion paper that should be introduced into the House for public debate.
My question to the minister is very specific. I want to know what Canadians have the right to know, whether the government intends now or in the future to legislate or regulate what is listed in this secret initiative document, family and dependant benefits for same sex couples and changes to marital and family status. Yes or no?
Benefits May 8th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, I have received a long term policy initiative document marked "protected", dated March 8, 1996, from the justice department listing the following initiatives related to personal relationships: marital and family status, same sex couples and family and dependant benefits.
Canadians have the right to know the minister's agenda. Is it his intention as a next step in his agenda to pursue family and dependant benefits for same sex couples?
Penitentiaries May 6th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the government is not interested in fixing the problem. It is not interested in punishment or deterrence. If it was, it would not be building comfort cottages like the Edmonton institution. It would be building prisons capable of keeping maximum security inmates inside the gates.
The Edmonton institution is a proven failure. When one-quarter of the inmates escape then there is no hope. Will the government sell the prison to the Holiday Inn-I am sure they can use it-and then build a prison that will ensure the safety of Edmontonians?
Penitentiaries May 6th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the Edmonton Institution for Women has been one disaster after another since it opened five months ago.
A quarter of the inmates have escaped. There has been a suicide and several slashings. There have been assaults on inmates and on guards. The list goes on and on.
Why did the government build a comfort cottage instead of a prison? When will it put the safety of Edmontonians ahead of the pleasures of inmates? Shut the place down.
Penitentiaries April 25th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, in an April 15 memo, the commissioner for Canada's prisons ordered universal distribution of bleach kits for inmates.
Each inmate will now receive a bottle of bleach and instructions on how to properly clean needles and syringes used for injecting, tattooing and body piercing. This is ludicrous. Injection of illicit drugs is a Criminal Code offence. More, the commissioner's directive states that syringes and drug paraphernalia are prison contraband and, therefore, must be seized.
On one hand, the commission's office promotes a program which encourages inmates to break the law and on the other hand, the commissioner intends to arm prisons with bleach and needle usage, both potential weapons to be used against other inmates and prison staff.
Rank and file prison guards state the obvious. Either Correctional Service Canada bureaucrats are incompetent or they have lost complete and total control of the administration of Canada's prison system, or both.
There is a drug problem in Canadian prisons. Clearly, it is time to clean up corrections and end this ridiculous program.
Criminal Code April 24th, 1996
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-273, an act to amend the Criminal Code (violent crimes).
Mr. Speaker, this bill can properly be characterized as two violent strikes legislation. For anyone who is convicted for the second time of a violent offence, that criminal shall be sentenced to life imprisonment.
For those who wish to rape, maim, conspire, corrupt and commit all manner of violent acts, this private member's initiative is bad news to them.
For victims and their families this bill represents a return to the principles of fundamental justice. It means those who repeatedly hurt and prey on the young, innocent the law-abiding will spend the rest of their natural lives in prison.
Let there be no mistake about the intent of this bill: two violent strikes and the criminal is out for life.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Criminal Code April 24th, 1996
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-272, an act to amend the Criminal Code (no parole when imprisoned for life).
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends certain provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada relating to prison sentences of life imprisonment. In effect this bill would eliminate any provision for early release or parole eligibility of any criminal serving a life sentence.
This private member's reflects the view that justice will be served when murderers sentenced to life imprisonment serve their full court ordered life sentence. For families of victims a true life sentence is an issue of closure. It is also a matter of fairness.
My bill sends a clear message to child killers like Clifford Olson. If an individual takes the life of another, that offender will spend the rest of his natural life locked away: no parole; life means life.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Clifford Olson April 17th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, last week Clifford Olson sent several members of this House, myself included, a sneering note which detailed the child killer's intent to seek early release under section 745 of the Criminal Code.
Olson's note to my office reads as follows: "I'm coming back Art. Quick, get section 745 repealed. Smile, sucker". This note was signed in type, Clifford Robert Olson, the beast of British Columbia.
Section 745 allows criminals sentenced to life imprisonment the eligibility for early release. Olson will make formal application for his judicial parole review this August. In addition, police killer Roy Glaremin will apply a second time this May for early release.
Fifty of the 60 murderers applying for early parole thus far have had their eligibility period reduced, at least 18 of whom have had their parole eligibility reduced to 15 years.
I call on the Minister of Justice to wipe the smirk off Olson's face. End this insanity, repeal section 745 without delay.
Petitions April 16th, 1996
The fourth petition, Mr. Speaker, bears 148 names.
The petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the human rights act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.
Petitions April 16th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the third petition bears 275 signatures.
The petitioners again call on Parliament to give immediate consideration to the removal of section 745 of the Criminal Code of Canada for the protection of all Canadians.