Anne McLellan

[Justice, November 29th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the government is working very hard with a number of agencies, levels of government and our allies to deal with the problem of the abuse and exploitation of children.

Let me reassure the hon. member that not only do we have provisions in the code dealing with child pornography now, Bill C-15A, which the justice committee considered some time ago and is now before the Senate, further enhances our ability to fight child pornography. We will continue to work with our allies and police forces around the world to track down--

[Anti-terrorism Act, November 27th, 2001]

moved that the bill be concurred in at report stage with another amendment.

[Anti-Terrorism Legislation, November 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, let me reassure the House that in fact, now some two years ago, we introduced sweeping reforms to our extradition legislation. In fact, that legislation was drafted only after detailed consultation with our allies, including the United States of America. We have some of the most modern, most efficient, most effective extradition laws in the world.

[Anti-terrorism Act, November 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I was referring to parliamentary oversight of the operation of the legislation. Ample opportunity for parliamentary oversight and other forms of oversight is built into Bill C-36.

The vast majority of Canadians expect the government to act to protect their safety and security. Canadians have participated in the debate. They have watched the debate. All of us in our individual ridings have heard from Canadians. It is now time to act.

[Anti-terrorism Act, November 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, let me point out to the hon. member that Canada is one of a relatively small number of countries that signed all 12 UN conventions which deal with the suppression of terrorism. Ten of them have been ratified and implemented.

Work was well underway and had the drafting been completed on the 11th convention dealing with terrorist bombing I would have been bringing that forward this fall regardless of the horrific events of September 11. Much of the policy work had also been done on the 12th convention dealing with the suppression of terrorist financing. That would also have been coming before the House. Far from what the hon. member says, this--

[Anti-terrorism Act, November 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. It is too bad the hon. member could not have been present last Wednesday morning at our caucus where there was complete support for Bill C-36 and the amendments that were made.

The purpose of time allocation is to ensure that the government discharges its obligation in relation to the safety and security of Canadians. There has been much debate. It is now time for action.

[Anti-terrorism Act, November 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I will not get into a debate with the hon. member around sunset clauses. We have been very clear in relation to our desire. We listened and understood that there were two provisions that caused the gravest concern. We indicated that we were willing to provide a sunset clause in relation to them.

If the hon. member feels it did not go far enough that is his right. We had five hours of debate yesterday, some of which I listened to intently in my office. Hon. members had the opportunity to put on the table their discussions around and their understanding of the sunset clause. There will be another full day of debate today in which those who choose can continue to talk about the sunset clause.

[Anti-terrorism Act, November 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I hope the hon. member is not suggesting that he would deprive, for example, accused persons and their counsel the right, if they wish to take that right, to challenge a section of any federal or provincial law that is germane to the cause at issue. I hope the hon. member is not suggesting that somehow he wants to restrict the right of Canadians to challenge the constitutionality of legislation, be it Bill C-36 or any other legislation.

We have reviewed the legislation in detail. It has gone through the most intense scrutiny in terms of whether or not it is consistent with the charter of rights and freedoms. We believe that this law is consistent.

[Anti-terrorism Act, November 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, we believe it is time to move forward on behalf of Canadians. Their safety and security is our primary obligation.

I take the hon. member's point that opposition parties had amendments. However, those amendments were considered. The committee voted on those amendments. Some were accepted and some were not. That is the parliamentary process. I remind everyone that at the end of the day the government stands on that which it did. We will be accountable to the Canadian people.

[Anti-terrorism Act, November 27th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, we have standing committees of the House of Commons and the Senate. Those committees represent in part the essence of the strength of our parliamentary democracy. Committee members spend hours talking and studying among themselves as well as hearing from witnesses.

The reality is that Bill C-36 includes many aspects of parliamentary oversight, be it in parliamentary committees such as the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights or the Senate committee, the privacy commissioner or access commissioner, the federal court or provincial courts or by calling ministers under the legislation. Our obligation is to report on an annual basis. It is the right of committees to call those ministers before them and to question those ministers in detail.

However, at the end of the day parliamentary oversight is provided by the men and women who sit on the floor of the House and who sit on standing committees where ministers could be called to defend that which they have done.