Lost his last election, in 2011, with 36% of the vote.
Government Programs May 6th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board. The last budget promised up to a billion dollars of reallocation from low priority program areas to more valued ones like cleaning up their mistakes. What specific examples can be cited of this so-called reallocation program where any money has ever been taken from a minister and given to another?
International Transfer of Offenders Act May 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, in some respects I am going to make an extended comment, especially in view of the government member's glowing recount of the bill.
In general I suppose the bill could be seen as a housekeeping measure because we already have a law that does this. However this particular bill extends some of the terms of the existing law.
In that respect I am supportive of the general spirit of being able to repatriate Canadians who are sentenced abroad. I see there is reciprocation in the bill. It allows other foreign nationals to be reciprocated out of Canada to their jurisdictions. I have been involved in some of those cases as a former officer of the courts of British Columbia.
However I look at the definition of a Canadian offender on page 1. It states “and whose verdict and sentence may no longer be appealed”.
I can see in some foreign jurisdictions where the technicalities of law in those foreign countries the sentence or conviction could still be appealed. There may be no sunset clause like there is in Canada. Yet the offender has no financial ability or may not even be able to get counsel because he is seen as a religious pariah or whatever and by definition he is discounted from ever even applying to the law.
On page 2 it says a transfer is not available “unless the Canadian offender's conduct would have constituted a criminal offence”. I look at all the Islamic law where there is going to be great difficulty. We are going to have Canadians in jail yet coming to Canada there would be no such law at all.
These are some of the--
International Transfer of Offenders Act May 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I direct the member to page 2, subclause 4(3) where it talks about a young offender who would be subject to the Youth Criminal Justice Act. If they were in custody abroad they could be returned with their conduct that would not have constituted a criminal offence if it had occurred in Canada. However it is not the same for an adult. We have a complete difference between offences for young offenders and adults. In other words, we will bring our kids home regardless but it is a different standard for adults. Again, it is an inconsistency in the bill.
International Transfer of Offenders Act May 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I would direct the government member to page 3, subclause 5(1) which clearly states:
A transfer may not have the effect of increasing a sentence imposed by a foreign entity or of invalidating a guilty verdict rendered, or a sentence imposed....
Let me turn to page 13, subclause 30(1), which states:
A Canadian offender shall benefit from any compassionate measures--including a cancellation of their conviction or shortening of their sentence--taken by a foreign entity after the transfer.
This a direct contradiction in the bill. I do not see how we will get out of this one. I think that when foreign governments look at subclause 30(1) they will say that they will not participate because the bill is inconsistent.
Committees of the House May 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is very interesting that it is only in Canada we would see Liberal members twist themselves into such a pretzel and be concerned about such a motion.
I have been to Taiwan. I have looked at its medical health care system and it has advances in science that I think Canada should be looking at. Certainly in looking at its response to SARS, perhaps Canada could learn a lot from Taiwan in that regard. We need to have Taiwan as a full player as an observer at the WHO and it should not be hampered by other political considerations. I would not want to see Canada again be offside from the community of nations because the Liberal government is without principle and cannot find its way out of the forest.
Parliament of Canada April 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, western Canadians have a sense of place in Confederation they do not see reflected in Parliament. Despite quality representation, we have insufficient influence.
Add substantial policy differences over decades, together with Ottawa's flirting with anti-Americanism, its starvation of the Canadian Forces, and its phony “neutralist” foreign policy: these are not reflective of western values of courageous compassion.
Ramming Kyoto through Parliament then giving massive emission exemptions to Ontario's auto industry is typical of alienating behaviour.
The standard answer is to extort more out of Confederation by voting Liberal. However our vote is the sacred trust, purchased at our great cost, for without having had our soldiers there would now be no politicians. We have long ties to the military, such as The Royal Westminster Regiment, whose origins predate joining Confederation.
We also will not be bribed with our own money. Alienation comes from the Liberal ideological failure to be fully democratic.
The west matters, especially our value for participatory democracy which would be good both for Canada and for the trends of governance around the world.
Auditor General April 9th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General must audit the books of some 70 departments, 40 crown corporations, 10 department corporations, and 60 other entities, with new duties added every year. Additional duties require more money beyond just an annual appropriation, money that is currently granted by government rather than an independent Parliament.
Does the government not see the potential for a loss of independence when the Auditor General must go cap in hand to the Treasury Board?
Auditor General April 9th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.
The Auditor General receives operational funding through the Treasury Board, the same entity which comes under scrutiny of the Auditor General. The Auditor General has been quoted as saying this arrangement is uncomfortable, perhaps even a direct conflict of interest, and potentially threatens the Auditor General's parliamentary independence.
How does the government defend having the Auditor General asking for operational money from the very department she has to audit?
Divorce Act March 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, concerning the misguided Divorce Act amendment, the minister must understand that he has made a serious mistake by succumbing to special interests and twisted Liberal ideology.
My personal experience as an officer of the divorce courts and my years as a divorce mediator tells me that we have a disaster brewing in this country.
Will the minister listen to the real experts, some of whom are on his own backbench, and the expertise rooted in the experience of Canadians who gave their evidence in the “For the Sake of the Children” report? Will he withdraw his bill and instead choose the wise course of real compassion for children?
Interim Supply March 25th, 2003
Mr. Chairman, could the President of the Treasury Board assure this House and give her complete assurance that the bill is in the usual form.
(On clause 2)