Mr. Speaker, I will answer next week.
Lost her last election, in 2008, with 39% of the vote.
Canadian Centre Against Sexual Abuse December 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I will answer next week.
Violence Against Women December 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I beg to differ with the hon. member. I was in the committee and the RCMP did not say in the context of those discussions exactly what the member has said.
Hon. members should be supporting gun legislation, especially on a day that we are commemorating such violent deaths.
Violence Against Women December 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
Why does the hon. member on a day like today choose not to support gun legislation again? That is one measure that would help.
Violence Against Women December 5th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, we will remember the 14 young women who lost their lives eight years ago, at Montreal's École polytechnique.
Like all victims of crimes, these young women and their families did not ask to become involved in the legal system. This tragedy had a major bearing on several acts passed by our government, including Bill C-68 on firearms, Bill C-27 and Bill C-55, to name just a few.
This week federal-provincial-territorial meetings of justice ministers in Montreal demonstrate once again our desire to work together with our provincial counterparts to ensure that Canadian concerns on this issue and others are addressed.
I invite all my colleagues to light a candle tomorrow on the national day of remembrance and action on violence against women in memory of the 14 young women whose lives were so needlessly and violently taken away.
World Aids Day December 1st, 1997
Mr. Speaker, “Children in a world marked by AIDS” is the theme for World AIDS Day. All the children of Canada and throughout the entire world will spend their entire lives dealing with the risk of infection by the virus that causes AIDS.
In Quebec, the latest figures indicate that AIDS hits children under the age of 15 hard, particularly marginalized youth. Some 3.8 million children under that age have been infected with HIV since the start of the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s, and 2.7 million of those have probably died by now, according to the latest UN AIDS report.
AIDS is emerging as a leading problem for youth in Canada. The medium age of new infections dropped from age 32 in 1982 to age 23 in 1986-90.
Today's announcement by the Minister of Health to commit $42.2 million a year over the next five years will ensure that our efforts to educate our youth to the dangers of AIDS and to provide treatment, care and support to those suffering will be maintained during this crucial time.
In a world with AIDS children are everyone's responsibility. We owe this to the next generation. We owe this to our children's future.
Jacques Parizeau November 26th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, once again I have been insulted by the words of the former leader of the Parti Quebecois, Jacques Parizeau. Despite the 39 years I have spent in Quebec, I will never be considered a full-fledged Quebecker by the separatists.
This country the PQ wants to create, is it one from which everybody who is not an old stock Quebecker will be excluded? I consider these words a personal attack on my children and myself, as well as on all other Quebeckers of Greek origin.
When are the separatists going to realize once and for all that we are neither pawns nor puppets led by one side or the other, but full members of Quebec society with our opinions, which we have the liberty to express in a democratic society.
Another quote from Lucien Bouchard “I admire Mr. Parizeau very much. He is one of the most brilliant politicians of his generation, he is an extraordinary man”.
Will Mr. Bouchard and the leaders of the separatist movement condemn these shameful words of their former leader, or will they, by keeping quiet as usual, approve of Mr. Parizeau's intolerant position?
Criminal Code November 25th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak on Bill C-206.
The purpose of this bill is to make hybrid offences the offences that are provided for in section 213 of the Criminal Code. These offences relate to prostitution, as the hon. member said.
At the moment, section 213 of the Criminal Code calls for an offence punishable on summary conviction. The sentence set out is either a maximum of $2,000 or maximum imprisonment of six months, or both.
The amendment proposed by the hon. member in Bill C-206 would have the effect of transforming this offence into a hybrid one.
When the legislation on section 213 was introduced in the House of Commons, the then minister of justice stated that the purpose behind the legislation was not an attempt to deal generally with all the legal issues connected with prostitution but a limited attempt to address the nuisance created by street soliciting.
The legislation sought to balance the concerns of law enforcement agencies, citizens groups, women's groups and civil libertarians. It made criminal the public activities most frequently engaged in for the purpose of offering or purchasing sexual services.
Since the street soliciting offence of section 213 is intended to assist in dealing with the social problems experienced by neighbourhoods affected by street prostitution, making this offence punishable by 10 years would seem disproportionate in light of the purpose of section 213, when similar offences such as causing disturbances in a public place are summary conviction offences.
Another possible purpose for making this offence a hybrid offence is to permit the fingerprinting and photographing of any person charged under section 213, this because the identification of criminal acts allows fingerprinting and photographing only in the case of offenders accused of committing an indictable offence pursuant to the federal Interpretation Act.
Some may feel fingerprinting and photographing may act as deterrents for prostitutes and their customers. However, experience has shown that this is not necessarily so.
There are already few repeat offenders among clients of prostitutes, even without fingerprinting and photos. For example, the statistics show that in Vancouver, for the period between 1986 and 1992, 2,045 men were charged with the offence covered by section 213 of the Criminal Code. Of that number, only 44, or 2%, were being charged with the same offence for a second time.
It seems that the mere fact of being arrested the first time is enough to discourage a repeat offence.
As for the prostitutes, most are photographed and fingerprinted, often early in their career, because they are often involved in more serious offences, such as drug-related crimes.
I am aware that a group of federal, provincial and territorial officials has been working since 1992, as the hon. member mentioned, to review legislation, policy and practices concerning prostitution related activities and to bring forward recommendations in relation to street prostitution and the involvement of youth in prostitution.
At the request of ministers responsible for justice issues, the working group consulted broadly with key stakeholders. Participants in the consultations included representatives of citizens groups, justice workers, current and former prostitutes, municipal and provincial officials, community service providers, educators, clergy, aboriginal groups, child welfare and health workers, and women advocacy groups. There was a very wide consultation.
An interim report of the consultation was issued by the working group in October 1995. The final report is scheduled for release sometime next month.
I will be interested, as I am sure all members of this House will be interested, in studying the report. I am sure the Minister of Justice and her provincial and territorial colleagues will also study the recommendations with great interest.
I would like to add that, unlike the Reform Party, we do not make changes to the Criminal Code based on the sensational news story of the day or the exceptions to the rule, but with a balanced, collaborative and consultative process. Then we act.
Let me assure the hon. member that we will be acting on the recommendations of the working group.
The Late Justice John Sopinka November 24th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, we all learned with great regret this morning of the sudden passing of Supreme Court Justice John Sopinka after a short illness.
Mr. Justice Sopinka was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in June 1988. He was born in 1933 in Broderick, Saskatchewan. He was educated in Hamilton, Ontario, and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1958. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, he was one of Canada's most renowned lawyers and had been called to the bar in five provinces and two territories.
Justice Sopinka was a great jurist who will be remembered for his contributions both to the court and to the Canadian justice system which he served with great distinction.
On behalf of all members of this House I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the members of his family.
Child Benefit November 19th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, the minister, despite the fact that he is not here, is sensitive, open and always willing to listen to Canadians.
As we have previously indicated, the government recognizes difficulties experienced by Canadians who lose their jobs, particularly those affected by the closing of the mine in Black Lake, in the hon. member's riding. However, this layoff cannot be considered under the program for older workers adjustment.
The POWA ended last March because, among other things, it was not fair and equitable to all older workers in Quebec and Canada. The program was offered only in some provinces. The Government of Canada assumed 70% of the cost and the provinces 30%. There were so many restrictions to the program that a good number of older workers simply could not qualify.
The government generously offered almost $3 million to help the miners at the British Canadian miner re-enter the workforce. The Department of Human Resources Development went from passive income support to proactive measures in order to help workers re-enter the workforce. Provinces also worked along that line.
The employer has always indicated its willingness to help workers. The Government of Quebec is prepared to pay its 30% share of a program which no longer exists because of its inequities.
Our government wants to work in co-operation with the company and the province of Quebec for the benefit of Quebec workers.
Child Benefit November 19th, 1997
Mr. Speaker, I point out to the hon. member that things are not as simple as he puts them. There has been much discussion in this House on this issue. Despite what the hon. member said, we are on the record as saying this is a serious issue and we are taking it very seriously. The minister will be taking it up with her provincial counterparts.
I remind the hon. member, as a member of the justice committee, that the justice committee has already stated that we will be dealing with the issue of drinking and driving as well as with the issue of victims rights.
This debate shows that it is obvious that impaired driving is a problem we dearly want to see resolved, whatever our political persuasion. Although members do not all agree on the best solutions to this problem, they all share the same goal, which is to reduce the number of cases of impaired driving.
Recent statistics from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics were released yesterday. The rate of persons charged with impaired driving in 1996 went down by 7% from what it was the previous year. The 1996 rate showed a marked decrease of 47% compared with the 1986 rate. That does not mean we are proud of these statistics or that we should all say the problem has been solved, but contrary to the statistics mentioned by the hon. member, these recently released statistics indicate the rate of persons charged with impaired driving has gone down. For 1996 all the jurisdictions in Canada reported a decrease in the rate of persons charged with impaired driving.
The centre stated that in looking at the adult court survey data included in the Juristat that unlike other offences under the Criminal Code, persons charged with impaired driving are more likely to be found guilty.
The minister is very committed to bringing forth some solutions to this problem. She will be—