Lost her last election, in 2006, with 39% of the vote.
Canadian Centre Against Sexual Abuse March 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I hope everyone in the House knows that this government is committed to fighting domestic violence wherever it happens.
My predecessor made a number of commitments in relation to funding for projects to address domestic violence across the country. We are negotiating with those groups right now to determine levels of funding.
Reference To Supreme Court February 18th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to clarify yet again, as I did yesterday, the position of the federal government in relation to the ongoing reference before the supreme court.
I want to quote from a statement of clarification that I issued yesterday in case anyone was under any misunderstanding as to where the government stands.
I will quote “The federal government's position is set out in our factum and our reply and was repeated in court on Monday. The federal position is that the constitution applies, and I fully support this position”.
Quebec February 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member is probably aware, the rule of law is a fundamental principle enshrined in the preamble to the Constitution of Canada.
This government's position has been absolutely clear throughout this reference procedure. The rule of law is a primary principle on which all processes in the future will be based. It is our belief that any secession in the future must be based on respect for the rule of law.
Quebec February 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I want to clarify one more time for hon. members in this House. The government's position is clear. The fundamental principle of the rule of law will apply to any secession.
Reference To Supreme Court February 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, let me clarify for hon. members across the way that there is absolutely no contradiction between the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and me. Nor is there any contradiction between what we believe and what our counsel is arguing in the supreme court today.
Let me make it absolutely clear for everybody in the House that the government's fundamental position is that we must proceed only on the basis of the rule of law and respect for the law.
Reference To Supreme Court February 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, what Mr. Fortier said yesterday on behalf of the Government of Canada is completely consistent with what I and some of my colleagues have said.
We have always made the argument that we must proceed on the basis of the rule of law. That is what Mr. Fortier said yesterday. That is what the government is going to do.
Reference To Supreme Court February 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, obviously this case is being argued before the court today. Therefore we are all limited in that which we should say because this case is not to be argued outside the court.
Let me, however, make it very plain. We believe that we the Government of Canada put three fundamental questions before the court. Mr. Fortier argued yesterday that the court should answer those three fundamental questions. There may well be other questions that in the future need to be addressed, but those are not questions before the court. I am in complete agreement with—
Justice February 16th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. He raises a very serious issue.
As I believe the hon. member knows, I have made a promise that I will be tabling in this House in the coming weeks a response to the report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on youth justice. The hon. member raises a very important point. I hope he will work with us when I table the response. We in this country are all very concerned that we ensure we have a youth justice system that first and foremost protects the public of this country.
Questions On The Order Paper February 13th, 1998
The Firearms Act received royal assent December 5, 1995. To date, the government has expended $34.3 million on the implementation of this legislation. Monies expended to date have been utilized for the design and development of the new Canadian firearms registration system, CFRS, for the development of communications vehicles to make the requirements of the new legislation understood by firearms owners and for associated program administration and liaison costs with federal-provincial-territorial partners.
At the present time, 53 federal Department of Justice employees are working on the implementation of this statute at the Canadian firearms centre, CFC. The overall salary cost to date for 1997-98 is $1.9 million.
No federal employees would be involved in the administration of the Firearms Act within the provinces and territories under normal circumstances. However, in view of the position taken by the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, we are developing plans with the RCMP for the provision of administrative services within those jurisdictions. These plans are not yet complete and, accordingly, the specific resources required to perform the required work and costs related thereto are not known at this time.
Canada Evidence Act February 11th, 1998
moved that Bill S-5, an act to amend the Canada Evidence Act and the Criminal Code in respect of persons with disabilities, to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act in respect of persons with disabilities and other matters and to make consequential amendments to other acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to address the House on Bill S-5, an act to amend the Canada Evidence Act, the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act in respect of persons with disabilities and other matters.
This is essentially the same bill as Bill C-98 which died on the order paper with the prorogation of parliament last year. This legislative package was brought back and introduced on a priority basis in the Senate on October 9, 1997 as Bill S-5. The bill was passed by the Senate on December 11, 1997.
This bill deals primarily with a number of problems related to disabilities. Since over four million people in Canada are disabled, many Canadians will benefit from the improvements to accessibility contained in this bill.
The federal government has an important role to play in ensuring that Canadians with disabilities are full and equal participants in the mainstream of society. It has recognized this role for many years, including back in 1991 with the announcement of a national strategy for the integration of persons with disabilities.
This five year strategy involved many federal government departments and agencies working toward a common goal: the integration of persons with disabilities in Canadian society.
An omnibus bill, Bill C-78, was one of the major achievements of the national strategy. It amended six different federal laws, the Criminal Code, the National Transportation Act, the Canada Elections Act, the Citizenship Act, the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, all with a view to improving the situation of Canadians with disabilities.
The Department of Justice has continued to review legislation in the area of the criminal law to find ways to deal with systemic barriers to access that may affect persons with disabilities.
There have been extensive consultations involving all interested stakeholders, including Canada's disability community.
In its fourth report tabled in the House in 1995, the Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Status of Disabled Persons recommended that there be legislative measures to reduce the difficulties faced by the disabled.
In addition, the federal task force on disability issues presided over by my colleague, the Solicitor General of Canada who is with me today in the House, released a report in October 1996 in which it was recommended that the federal government proceed as soon as possible with relevant amendments to the criminal law and to human rights legislation. The bill clearly responds to these recommendations.
The bill is of utmost importance to every Canadian and deserves no less than the utmost support of every member of the House. I am pleased to say that I understand all members of the House are supportive of legislation and therefore will facilitate its speedy passage through the House.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you, as well as my colleagues, for giving me the opportunity to introduce this important bill in the House.