Art Hanger

[Foreign Aid Restriction Act, November 23rd, 1995]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-357, an act respecting restriction on foreign aid.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is designed to stop the flow of financial or other aid to any foreign country that refuses to accept re-entry of its nationals or former nationals deported from Canada.

Far too often when foreign born criminals are ordered deported from Canada, deportation is hampered because some countries do not want to take back their nationals. The foreign aid restriction act addresses this issue by freezing aid to countries that frustrate the Canadian deportation process.

The bill is a strong measure to ensure effective deportation policy in Canada. If a country will not take back its citizens who have committed criminal acts in Canada or who have misrepresented their past involvement in organized criminal activity, terrorism or other activities as noted under section 19 of the Immigration Act of Canada and are ordered deported, the bill would then direct the Department of Foreign Affairs to suspend all foreign aid to that country.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

On the Order: Private Members' Business:

Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage of Bill C-292, an act to commemorate the birthplace of Confederation-Member for Hillsborough.

[Justice, November 21st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Solicitor General of Canada. In 1987, Wanda Woodward was strangled by Daniel Gingras, a convicted murderer who was out of prison on a birthday shopping pass.

Six years have passed since the family filed suit for damages against the prison system. To date, the case has not been settled nor has an apology been issued to the Woodward family.

Only a few weeks ago, the solicitor general eagerly defended Correctional Services Canada for a $12,000 payout made to convicted murderer John Lee because Lee was beaten up in jail.

If a criminal such as Lee is paid off so quickly and those actions defended by the minister, why is he not coming to the defence of the Woodward family and their plea for just compensation for their daughter's murder?

[Justice, October 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, murderers Jim Peters and Robert Brown raped, stabbed to death and burned the bodies of their victims Laurie Boyd and Debbie Stevens. The Boyd and Stevens families are outraged to think that Peters could be eligible for a parole or even for parole review after serving only 15 years.

Since the solicitor general says he cannot intervene in the decision making process, will he support the repeal of section 745 of the Criminal Code and ask his party to support it as well?

[Justice, October 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, regardless of the outcome of today's referendum, Canadians continue to be extremely concerned about their safety. The early release of violent offenders is one issue that will not go away.

Can the solicitor general explain to Canadians why a first degree murderer is allowed to appeal his parole eligibility after serving only 15 years of a life sentence?

[Justice, October 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, by this action the minister tells an outraged public that crime pays.

There is no justification for rewarding John Lee, a murderer. It is disgusting. A victim's rights must be paramount, yet again the victim's family is forgotten. Justice is when the criminal pays for his crime.

Why does the minister make crime such a profitable business for lawyers and criminals, yet ignores the pain and isolation of the victims?

[Justice, October 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, convicted murderer John Lee received an out of court settlement of $12,000 after suing Correctional Service Canada because he was beaten up in jail. Lee's victims, Mrs. Tutin and the rest of the family, received no compensation and are demanding an explanation from the justice minister why he received this out of court settlement.

Why is the justice minister giving money to murderers?

[Petitions, October 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in this petition 262 petitioners pray that Parliament not repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code in any way and to uphold the Supreme Court of Canada decision of September 30, 1993 to disallow assisted suicide or euthanasia.

[Petitions, October 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in the third petition the petitioners call upon Parliament to eliminate the right of a convicted pedophile to be let out of jail on bail pending an appeal. This would thereby ensure the protection and safety of victims and the community from such a convicted offender. This petition bears 250 signatures.

[Petitions, October 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in the second petition the petitioners pray that Parliament act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings. This petition bears 175 signatures.

[Petitions, October 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions pursuant to Standing Order 36.

The petitioners in the first petition pray and request that Parliament not amend the Canadian 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. The petition bears 169 signatures.