House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 65% of the vote.
Petitions December 5th, 1994
Madam Speaker, I have several petitions I would like to enter, the first dealing with sexual orientation.
The petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way that would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including the amending of the Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation. There are 304 signatures.
Refugee Determination November 30th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the current turmoil at the IRB is only a symptom of a greater disease. Members of the IRB have approached me saying that there is no cure for the lack of accountability in that institution. They have told me that the IRB was a gross overreaction to a court decision and should be scrapped.
Our current refugee system is out of touch with internationally accepted norms of refugee determination. It costs a horrendous amount of money and is ignoring the desperate needs of tens of thousands of genuine refugees overseas.
It is time to rethink our refugee determination system and the Reform Party has. Very soon we will be releasing our proposals for change to the system, changes that are going to be in the
interests of not only refugees but of taxpayers as well. Our proposals will balance the needs of refugees against the needs of Canadians.
We have the guts to restore a little common sense to the system. Once again the Reform Party leads the way. We will be setting the agenda in refugee determination the way that we have set the agenda in immigration policy.
Immigration Refugee Board November 21st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I trust that the minister will recommend that the judge hold Mr. Schelew in contempt of court for refusing to appear.
Given that the minister has called a judicial inquiry, will he expand that inquiry to include IRB members who have been artificially inflating acceptance rates? Will the minister refer an investigation of the entire IRB executive to the Standing Committee on Immigration?
Immigration Refugee Board November 21st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of immigration.
Despite the minister's call for a judicial inquiry into the performance of vice-chair of the Immigration Refugee Board, Michael, Schelew, it looks as though it might not get off the ground. After the announcement of the inquiry Schelew said he would not co-operate.
Given that Schelew thinks he is above the law, will the minister of immigration admit that the best way to deal with Mr. Schelew is not send a pretty please invitation to a judicial inquiry but send him a pink slip and immediately demand his permanent resignation from the board, like he did with his other friend, Inderjit Singh Bal?
Petitions November 18th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have three other petitions on the matter of euthanasia. There are 1,142 signatures of petitioners asking 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 euthanasia.
I heartily agree with all of these petitions.
Petitions November 18th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, a fourth petition is on sexual orientation. 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 homosexuality, including amending the Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation. There are 305 signatures.
Petitions November 18th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, there is a third petition on capital punishment with 358 signatures. The undersigned request that Parliament recognize that those who commit murder never be released from prison. To that end we ask that capital punishment be reinstated for all offenders.
I heartily agree with this petition.
Petitions November 18th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is with regard to parole. The undersigned request that Parliament recognize that crimes of violence are serious and out of control, putting all of society at risk and that life should be life with no parole for violent offenders convicted of first degree murder and a minimum of 25 years without parole for those convicted of second degree murder. There are 285 signatures.
Petitions November 18th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions that I would like to present to the House.
The first petition deals with the Young Offenders Act. The petitioners in memory of Ryan and in support of Stu and Marg Garrioch and family request that Parliament recognize that crimes of violence are serious and out of control, putting all of society at risk. They ask the House to amend the Young Offenders Act and give society the protection it deserves. There are 280 names on that petition.
Immigration And Refugee Board November 15th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the confidential report made against Schelew chronicles months of intimidation and veiled threats, references to a friendship between the minister and Schelew, Schelew telling members to ignore lies that refugee claimants tell because "everybody lies".
This minister has let Tory appointees like Greg Fyffe go from the board for no reason at all. Why has he chosen to protect Schelew at the expense of individual board members and the integrity of the entire refugee process?