Andy Scott

[Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it would seem to me that members who are representative of the political party that established the public complaints commission should understand its purpose.

I think all of the questions being put are being put specifically around this particular incident which is being investigated right now. It would be completely inappropriate to discuss any of the details around that investigation.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, again the hon. member opposite shows a tremendous misunderstanding as to how this works.

The reality is that the security questions are handled by the RCMP specific to the kinds of questions that are being investigated by the public complaints commission. The public complaints commission is going to get to the bottom of this. That is what parliament has mandated it to do and I have every confidence it will do it well.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I find it shocking that the member opposite as a critic for the solicitor general would not be aware that it would be completely inappropriate for the minister responsible for that tribunal to speak to it in this House during the investigation.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that documents he is referring to, the allegations that have been made and the questions that have been put are all subject to a public complaints commission review. That review is being undertaken right now.

It does a discredit to those Canadians who choose to serve their country as members of that commission to suggest in any way that their integrity should be in question. That does a disservice to this exercise and to the truth.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I would appeal to the members opposite to recognize the appropriate role for the public complaints commission that was established by parliament. It deserves our support and I would ask the members opposite to give it to the commission.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the members opposite are displaying a remarkable lack of understanding as to how these processes work. The administrative tribunal is available to the public to seek recourse when it believes there has been a grievance. That is the process in play. I have high regard for that process, as I believe most Canadians do and I would ask the hon. member to join them.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, all the questions being raised are subject to this inquiry. As I said, I think we should let that inquiry do its job.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for everybody to understand exactly the process at play here.

The public complaints commission is an institution that was established by parliament specifically to deal with complaints against the RCMP. That is why it is called the public complaints commission.

I wish that the members opposite would give that organization the opportunity to do its job as parliament would have it do it.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, in fact it was parliament that made the decision to establish the public complaints commission in 1986. It functioned for 12 years quite effectively and I am sure it will do its job well again.

[Apec Summit, September 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the subjects that are being asked about right now are subjects that are being investigated by the appropriate administrative tribunal. I think it is appropriate for parliament to give it the opportunity to do its job.