Myron Thompson

[Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, June 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.

Over half a million dollars of tax money was budgeted for a national AIDS survey focusing on the gay community. AIDS education is important. However the money was used instead to publish a sex recipe for gay men detailing in explicit gutter language how men engage in sex with one another. This is absurd.

Does the minister condone spending one half a million dollars on this kind of garbage?

[Department Of Citizenship And Immigration Act, June 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I should have clarified that a bit. I am talking specifically about those people who come here, commit crimes and are desperately wanted in their countries of origin.

I am thinking of Charles Ng particularly. Why did we house him and spend millions of dollars for six years? We did not want to send him back to California where he was wanted for 22 murders or something. Inmates from Drumheller, for example, have expressed openly that even though they were caught the penalties in this country were not very severe. They would rather be caught here then go back and face the penalties they would have to face in other parts of the world.

I think we should analyse the whole issue. If it is a bigger benefit financially than punishment wise or whatever, we should probably consider sending them back.

[Department Of Citizenship And Immigration Act, June 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to get one item clarified on where the Department of Citizenship and Immigration stands with regard to criminals who are non-citizens in our country.

I want to make it perfectly clear that I am honoured to be here as an MP and an immigrant who received his citizenship not too many years back. I consider it a privilege to have been selected by my constituency to represent these people.

One thing that is quite concerning in the hearts of the individuals in Wild Rose reverts to the case of Charles Ng in which we kept this individual in the country for a number of years, an extremely costly venture, millions of dollars I understand. We also recently had a conviction in the city of Calgary by another non-citizen who was considered to be here illegally and was a corrupt policeman I believe in his country of origin. He was convicted of murdering a policeman in my riding.

Having visited the Kingston penitentiary recently I talked to a number of inmates who are non-citizens. Drumheller, Bowden in my riding, federal institutions, have a great number of non-citizens. One of the inmates who was a non-citizen stated that he purposely came to Canada because he found it easier to operate his particular drug ring in this country than anywhere else on this continent.

I hear these kinds of things. What I am concerned about is the fact that we do have a number of non-citizens, serious criminals who are now confined and others who are awaiting indictment. Would the Department of Citizenship and Immigration support the idea of deportation of non-citizens who are convicted of serious crimes?

[Supply, June 8th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, I have a couple of comments.

We all realize that to eliminate the deficit like that is an impossibility. One does not have to have the brains of a rocket scientist to figure that one out. However, what puzzles me is when we hear the rhetoric from that side of the House. Surely we are not ready to give up prison guards, food inspectors, air traffic controllers. We know the difference between essentials and waste.

However, how come when we hear speakers from that side of the House we do not hear such things as contributions to MP pensions which are somewhere in the neighbourhood of $17 million per year? How come we do not hear about Challen-ger jets that ought to be gone? How about blue limousines that we could do without? How about free residences and all the other things of that nature that amount to several millions of dollars? Why do we not ever hear that?

[Supply, June 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to question the previous speaker and the one prior to him on a couple of things.

First of all, I want it perfectly clear that I stand firm in the belief of a truly triple-E Senate, and I also believe that what we presently have is ineffective and truly a waste of dollars for a lot of reasons.

One area that I am familiar with is the United States, as that is where I came from, and although the systems are slightly different the Senate has a significant purpose in that country and that is to protect the districts and regions from exploitation from larger regions. That is primarily its purpose.

For example, the state of Montana, with one representative by population, is protected by two senators, as all states. Montana could have been exploited on a great number of occasions had it not been for that set-up.

First of all, if we had no means of protection from exploitation by larger regions for smaller regions, what process would we use to make certain that does not happen? I am going to assume that he is going to answer in the same way as the previous speaker, that the people would take the appropriate action and put a stop to it. If he believes that, would he believe that the people of Canada as a whole should be able to take appropriate action if Quebec decides to separate?

[Petitions, June 1st, 1994]

Madam Speaker, under Standing Order 36 I am asked to table yet another petition along with four or five others that have already been tabled from various individuals throughout the country who enjoy the great facilities that we have in Banff National Park in my riding.

The petition reads that the stop work order at Sunshine Village in order to initiate yet another environmental study is an unnecessary cost to taxpayers. Numerous studies and public forums have already been held and expansion was approved by both Liberal and Conservative governments during the past 16 years. Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to allow the expansion at Sunshine Village as previously agreed to without further cost to taxpayers for repetitive environmental studies.

[Correctional Service Canada, June 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear some of that.

I would like to suggest that if it is up the opposition to supply all this valuable information to those who are supposed to be doing the job, let me know. I am up for hire. I will supply those names. I do have them and we will supply them.

I would like to ask the solicitor general to be just a little more specific and tell Canadians exactly when hard pressed Canadian taxpayers will be able to expect some relief and when prisoners will stop receiving GST payments.

[Correctional Service Canada, June 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the solicitor general.

Yesterday a colleague of mine asked about prisoners in federal institutions receiving various forms of social assistance and he was told that the solicitor general was looking into it.

We have looked into it and discovered that not only are the prisoners receiving OAS and CPP payments but they are receiving GST rebates even though they do not meet the qualifications of the Income Tax Act.

Will the Solicitor General act immediately to rectify this outrageous situation?

[Junior A Hockey Champions, May 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to announce that this year's Centennial Cup Junior A hockey champions come from the heart of the Wild Rose country, Alberta, known as the Olds Grizzlies.

Due to the outstanding efforts of the coach, his staff and the entire team, the Grizzlies were undefeated throughout the entire round robin tournament. They competed against such fine teams as the Chateauguay Elites from Ontario and Quebec, the Red Wings of Weyburn, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the Kelowna Spartans from British Columbia, and the Bulldogs from Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

This achievement could not have been possible without the hundreds of volunteers who not only own, but run the team on a day to day basis. During this time of fiscal restraint this is a perfect example of people donating their time for something they believe in without regard for monetary return.

On behalf of the constituents of Wild Rose, we are proud of this team's accomplishment and the contribution it has made to sport in Canada.

[National Parole Board, May 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the first comment with regard to the fact we cannot do anything is a cop out. Second, I am really pleased to hear the Solicitor General say the safety of the people is of utmost importance.

Therefore I urge the Solicitor General to consider this request carefully. With the parole moratorium for violent offenders future tragedies will more than likely be prevented. If a moratorium is not introduced is the Solicitor General prepared to be held accountable by the people of Canada for needless tragedies that will certainly occur?