Lost her last election, in 2006, with 39% of the vote.
Access To Information June 13th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate again that which the information commissioner himself has said. He said the act “is working remarkably well”. He went on to say:
Hundreds of thousands of records are disclosed each year.
There is...a growing recognition of the importance of good information management to the achievement of the government's business strategies and goals.
I think those statements say it all.
Access To Information June 13th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, let me say again that this government is committed to openness. One of the reasons we are reviewing the access to information legislation is that we want to ensure we have the best legislation possible. We want to ensure we build upon the culture of openness in which this government has taken a leadership role.
Access To Information June 13th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I find it very interesting that the opposition quotes only certain comments from the commissioner's report and does not quote, for example, the following:
—one must recognize that the Access to Information Act is working remarkably well.
Hundreds of thousands of records are disclosed each year. For every complaint made to the Information Commissioner at least ten other individuals obtained good service from government under the Access to Information Act.
The commissioner went on to say “This is a good law, a very good law”. He continued by saying “There is, happily, a growing recognition of the importance of good information management—”
Access To Information June 13th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, let me reassure the House that there is nothing secret about the government's review of our access legislation.
In fact, we have appointed a task force and that task force is hard at work. We have also appointed an advisory council made up of representatives of key stakeholders who use our access legislation and seek information on a regular basis from the government. The general public, including members of the House, are encouraged to participate in this review process.
Criminal Code June 12th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, drunk driving is a severe problem in society. Too many people die tragically every year. The criminal code is one part of a concerted response to the problem of drunk driving.
As I have indicated to the hon. member, my officials are working with Quebec and others, and we hope to be able to come forward with an amendment to the criminal code as early as this fall.
Criminal Code June 12th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we are in receipt of and well aware of the resolution the hon. member speaks of.
My officials are working with Quebec and other provinces, and we hope to make amendments to the criminal code very soon to permit just that.
Human Rights June 12th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I do not think I am in a position to comment on how the government issues its cheques, but I will take that up with one of my colleagues, maybe the Minister of National Revenue.
In relation to the other issue of social condition, as the hon. member is probably aware, Mr. Justice La Forest undertook a review of the Canadian Human Rights Act. His task force issued a report with over 160 recommendations, one of which was to look at the possibility of adding social condition. We will pursue that as we—
Justice June 12th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we have made it plain over and over again that sexual predators are a priority of the government and the protection of our children is a priority of the government.
Unfortunately it does not appear to be a priority of the official opposition. We are ready this afternoon to pass Bill C-15. Why do they not put their petty posturing to one side and join us this afternoon in the passage of Bill C-15?
Justice June 12th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I would have to say that members of the official opposition do not need any help from us in terms of embarrassing themselves. They are able to do that quite well themselves.
In responding to what the hon. member believes is a serious issue, we on this side of the House have said consistently that we are ready to move on Bill C-15. We will pass Bill C-15 today if the official opposition is willing to move.
Justice June 12th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, let me reassure the House that the only things standing in the way of important initiatives to further protect children are the disgusting, unnecessary antics of the official opposition.