Janko Peric

[Criminal Code, October 22nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today in this House to support private member's Bill C-251, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. This bill was brought forward with great determination by the member for Mississauga East.

This bill would bring justice to sentencing practices in Canada and would end volume discounts for rapists and murderers. By enacting consecutive sentencing for serial murderers and rapists this bill will give victims and families faith in parliament and the ability to sleep peacefully at night.

The Canadian public understands that the objectives of this bill are to reduce our inhumanity to the families of victims, to restore some truth in sentencing and to stop gambling away lives on the chance that a multiple murderer or serial predator will not attack again.

Disparity in sentencing in this country provides a strong argument for change. Consider this: half of those convicted of second degree murder who are sentenced to life are released after less than 12 years. Denis Lortie, who gunned down three people in the Quebec National Assembly, was released after only 11 years. That is about 3.5 years for each person he murdered.

Life imprisonment in Canada does not mean life. Canadians are misled to believe that once a murderer goes to jail he stays there. That is not always the case and it never was.

Researchers say that the same set of case facts, for some offences at least, generated sentences that ranged from a suspended sentence to 13 years in prison. There is no consistency from one end of the country to the other. This is very disturbing.

A shocking discovery is found in a study entitled “Sentencing in Canada: Recent Statistical Trends” written by two well-respected experts in this field, Julian Roberts of the University of Ottawa and Andy Birkenmayer of Statistics Canada. The report states:

One of the most basic failings of the current sentencing system in Canada is that there is no method for anyone—to know in a systematic, up-to-date, and accessible manner, on a continuing basis, what kinds of sentences are being handed down.

With no consistency and no proper, well-known precedence on sentencing, how can Canadians have confidence in their legal system? Change begins with this bill.

The tragic irony is that we have no problem invoking consecutive penalties for offences like parking tickets or speeding tickets.

As the member for Mississauga East has explained many times, if someone parks illegally 10 times they pay 10 tickets. There is no volume discount. If someone gets three speeding tickets they are going to pay three fines.

This bill seeks the same principle for serious and vicious crimes. One only has to look at the Clifford Olson case to be compelled to vote for Bill C-251. At Olson's disgusting 745 hearing last summer he read out a letter from his lawyer advising him to admit to all of his murders at once. In this way Olson could take full advantage of the concurrent sentencing law.

We should not accept the fact that Olson and other predators can be given concurrent sentences and that our justice system continues to offer bulk rates for brutality.

It has been argued in this House that concurrent sentences counter any need to reduce sentencing dispositions for individual offences in order to achieve an overall and just result. It is never just to reduce a sentence for rape or murder just because the victim was not the only victim of the predator involved.

It is worse yet for the courts to mask the fact that they do discount sentences time and time again through concurrent sentencing. The courts should impose consecutive sentences when the crimes are as devastating as murder and sexual assault.

Is it not more logical and compassionate to keep those predators who have killed or sexually assaulted multiple victims securely away from future victims? If we need more space in prisons, then creative forms of punishment and rehabilitation should be introduced for those guilty of property or commercial offences.

Here is a compelling point. It is often said that the National Parole Board is an independent decision maker dedicated to public safety. However, in the real world an average paroled criminal murders one person a month. How can members of this House live with that statistic? How can we not care about victims who have every reason to fear the release of a predator and who can never escape the endless parole process that threatens to unleash the savagery of their assailants?

Consecutive sentences would help the parole board to distinguish the higher risk associated with rapists and murderers convicted of multiple offences from individuals who may be guilty of a single crime from a single incident.

Currently the lives of individual victims have been erased from the sentencing equation. It shows a justice system that cheapens life, where the courts have little regard for the pain, suffering and death of the second, third or eleventh victim. I find this unacceptable. Constituents in my riding find this unacceptable. Members on both sides of this House find it unacceptable as well.

I would like to believe that we live in a country where government would do everything in its power to protect the victims of predators like Clifford Olson, Paul Bernardo and Denis Lortie. Bill C-251 will do just that. The voice of Canadians who want to see important changes to the Criminal Code is growing and growing. We can all relate to the public's need to feel safe. However, it is time to do more than just relate. It is time to enact change to protect the peace of mind of every Canadian in this country.

I thank the member for Mississauga East for bringing these reasonable and required changes to light and for the strength and hard work she has shown in pushing this issue in the House. Our justice system demands urgent changes. I fully support Bill C-251 and I strongly encourage all members of the House to do the same.

[Com Dev International, October 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, last week COM DEV International of my riding of Cambridge and National Defence signed an $8.6 million R and D contract to provide Canada's armed forces its own cutting edge military satellite communications system.

With its new Beam*Link processor technology, COM DEV Space Group's military satellite payload subsystem will be 30% more efficient and will boost the commercial export success of Canadian industry.

This is one of several projects DND and COM DEV have collaborated on since the early 1980s and will help to position COM DEV to secure future American military satellite contracts.

I applaud COM DEV, the Minister of National Defence and R and D for their activities.

[Pat Singleton, October 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate women's history month I rise to pay tribute to Pat Singleton, a woman of great energy, determination and community spirit.

For more than 10 years Pat has been the executive director of the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank. Organizations like Nutrition for Learning, the United Way, South Waterloo Housing, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Cancer Society, Cambridge Interfaith, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Alzheimer Society, Aids Awareness, International Women's Day and Kiwanis have all benefitted from Pat's involvement.

In 1996 Pat was named volunteer of the year by the Brant County Heart and Stroke and woman of the year by the Cambridge YWCA.

On behalf of the people of Cambridge riding I thank Pat for her dedication to making our community a better place.

[Housing, October 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Constituents in my riding continue to express grave concerns about the downloading of federal housing programs to the government of Mike Harris. What assurances can the minister give that federally administered co-ops will be maintained by CMHC in Ontario?

[Commonwealth Games, October 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Cambridge native Crystal Gilmore and her four teammates Emilie Fournier, Veronique Leclerc, Lise Léveillé and Katie Rowland, all members of Canada's bronze medal women's gymnastic team at the recent Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.

A member of the Cambridge Kips Gymnastic Club, Crystal and her teammates represented our nation with determination and pride. They showed by their example what can be accomplished with hard work and dedication.

On behalf of the people of Cambridge and all Canadians, I congratulate Crystal, Emilie, Veronique, Lise and Katie on their success.

[Cultural Policy, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Minister of Canadian Heritage for her vision and leadership in organizing an important international meeting on cultural policy this summer.

The goal of this meeting was to build alliances and promote international co-operation for enhancing cultural sovereignty and diversity in the face of globalization.

Discussions during the Ottawa meeting were built around three themes: cultural diversity; the role of culture in global relations; and culture and trade.

Through meetings such as these, the importance of protecting and enhancing Canadian and other cultures is brought front and centre on the world stage.

I urge the minister to continue to build on this success.

[Competition Act, September 22nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to have the opportunity to debate this important bill which was introduced by the member for Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge.

The Competition Act was designed to promote competition and efficiency in the Canadian marketplace. It sets out a basic code of conduct for businesses in this country and covers criminal offences such as conspiracy, discriminatory and predatory pricing, price maintenance, misleading advertising and deceptive marketing practices.

However based on what I have been hearing from my constituents in Cambridge, the Competition Act is not protecting consumers in the case of the gas industry. Very real concerns remain about what has been happening in this sector. In fact these concerns have been growing. There has been much debate over the issue of gasoline pricing. Independent gas retailers and many consumers believe that the major oil companies are using their dominant position in the marketplace to set out prices which adversely affect competition.

During a town hall meeting in my riding of Cambridge, consumers, trucking companies and independent retailers all expressed frustration over fluctuating gas prices. We know that across the country gas prices prior to long weekends and during summer vacations go up and in midweek they go down. Sometimes retail outlets owned by the major companies charge less for their gas than the independent retailers purchase it for but the price mysteriously goes up again.

The major companies say that this practice is because of the low supply of gasoline, production problems and of course the refinery shutdowns. I do not believe that Canadians, including myself, buy that argument. When there is a frost in Florida the price of oranges does not go up only over the weekend.

I was a member of the Liberal committee on gasoline pricing which travelled throughout Canada. Time and time again we heard from independent gasoline retailers how truly difficult it is to stay in business when the supplier they are competing against is the same person who sets the cost at which they are going to receive the supply.

Mr. Speaker, if a supplier wants to increase his market share at your expense or the Canadian taxpayers' expense, it is not hard to predict that the independent retailer will be out of business in a very short time. This is the story of the bully on the block who is bigger and stronger.

Many complaints have been filed with the Competition Bureau about unfair practices. Unfortunately we hear from the Competition Bureau that it does not have the tools to resolve these ongoing complaints. We must give the bureau those tools and this bill is doing exactly that.

The holes in the Competition Act have been identified by others. We know that in 1986 the Restrictive Trade Practices Commission recommended that the federal government take steps to determine the limits of appropriate pricing in the specific dual distribution context of the petroleum industry.

The New Brunswick all-party committee also looked into the operation of the petroleum industry. In 1997 it issued a report which stated that the Competition Act has little effect in preventing discriminatory pricing or predatory pricing.

We know from the committee when it was travelling that consumers and independents in New Brunswick and Newfoundland have been squeezed out. Surprise, surprise.

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that I have another minute but I could go on and on.

I would urge all members of the House to support this bill.

Again I congratulate the member for Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge for his tireless work in this area. I urge the House and members to be responsible to their constituents.

[Foreign Affairs, June 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

A constituent of mine, Mr. Patrick Jay Green, has served over half his sentence in a Costa Rican prison. Under terms of agreement with the host country Patrick, who is ill, should have been in Canada already.

What assurances can the minister give my constituent and his family that he will soon be transferred to Canada?

[Land Mines, May 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I call on all members of the House to join me in congratulating all parliamentarians of the Republic of Croatia for unanimously ratifying the Canadian led treaty to ban anti-personnel land mines.

One of the first countries to support and join the Ottawa process, Croatia became the 12th country to ratify this convention.

A foremost victim of land mines, up to three million mines were laid in areas of the country, blocking the safe return of refugees and displaced persons and further hampering attempts at development and reconstruction.

Through partnerships with other states, Canadian de-mining technology and expertise can help to eliminate the dangers of existing land mines in this region.

[Petitions, May 25th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the privilege to present to the House a petition from 83 concerned citizens from my riding of Cambridge and surrounding areas. The petitioners draw the attention of the House to their concern for all Canadians who contracted hepatitis C from the federally regulated blood system through no fault of their own.

The petitioners pray and request that the Parliament of Canada show compassion and fairness by acting on the recommendations of the Krever report calling for compensation to all those infected, as was done for those who contracted AIDS.