Andy Scott

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, quite the contrary. Because the public complaints commission represents the interests of Canadians, that was the reason we did not want to offer support to hire lawyers. We do not want this to become a court. We do not wish this to take on an adversarial nature.

We have been assured by the public complaints commission that these processes are done informally. It is not intended to be adversarial. The students will have their opportunity to appear before the agency that has been struck in their interest.

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, the security arrangements around APEC were the responsibility of the RCMP. It is those very arrangements that are being investigated by a structure that was put in place by the House and deserves our respect.

They are going to get to the truth and I wish members opposite would let them do their job.

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is vitally important that members opposite, particularly members of the party that created the commission, would respect its right to do its work and that we would not be reacting to every piece of information as it comes along.

It is very important that we let this exercise continue because Canadians deserve to know the truth.

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. member is aware of the role of the public complaints commission. I know the hon. member is aware that these issues are being investigated. I know he is aware that if I were to express an opinion on this it would be called political influence on my part, and I will not have it.

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the security arrangements are the responsibility of the RCMP and the RCMP are being investigated in the broadest possible way by the public complaints commission. We will get to the truth, as Canadians expect. This is an institution that was struck by this House and I think it deserves the respect of this House.

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the security arrangements around the APEC conference were the responsibility of the RCMP. The RCMP have a system to do an inquiry into the actions of the RCMP. That is the inquiry that is in play right now. It deals specifically with the kinds of allegations being put. If we will allow them to do their job I think the interests of Canadians will be served as was intended when the PCC was struck.

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

That is quite right, Mr. Speaker, and I am very much aware of that. That is the reason I am protecting this process from the slams it is receiving from the other side.

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the hon. member to quit undermining the integrity of the public complaints commission and let it do its job.

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, once again the hon. member displays a real lack of understanding as to the process in place. The public complaints commission established by her government, the last government, was established specifically so Canadians would have recourse. They have it and I feel strongly that we need to protect the integrity of that process so that we can get to the truth.

[Apec Summit, September 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for members of all parties to recognize that, in Canada, Canadians have the opportunity to challenge the authority of the RCMP in this case. There is a process in place. It was set up by the previous government and it deserves the right to do its job.