Myron Thompson

[National Parole Board, May 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Solicitor General.

I too had the opportunity to attend the rallies that were held in Calgary and Edmonton this weekend. There were thousands of voices crying out: "If you do the crime, do the time". I know that does not make sense to the group across the way but it does represent the voice of millions of Canadians.

What I would like to know is will the Solicitor General declare a moratorium on paroling violent offenders until Parliament completes its review of this crucial issue?

[Young Offenders, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the justice minister.

Today, if Scott Farion from Edmonton were alive, he would be celebrating his 18th birthday. Instead, his life was cut short when he became Edmonton's first murder victim of 1994. So today his parents are grieving their loss rather than enjoying his birthday.

The tragedy of this case is that Scott's murder could have been prevented. Scott's alleged killer is a 16-year old repeat offender who was out on probation for another crime at the time of the murder.

What can the minister tell Scott's parents today to assure them that this government plans to get tough with young offenders?

[National Parole Board, May 4th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear that. While we are waiting for that system of accountability, while we are waiting for this amendment, and since we obviously have parole board members presently releasing dangerous offenders into the community, is the minister prepared to put a moratorium on paroling dangerous offenders before other innocent victims die?

[National Parole Board, May 4th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Solicitor General.

Yesterday the chairman of the National Parole Board confirmed that the vice-chairman of the board's prairie region was involved in five decisions to release convicts who, once released, went on to murder seven people.

Given the minister's comments that his first priority is to achieve safe homes and safe streets for Canadians, could he please tell Canadians what action he is to take in this regard?

[Challenger Jet, April 27th, 1994]

I have a supplementary, Mr. Speaker. What did not happen was we did not address the extravagance. It sounds like a two tier system to me. Security for the Prime Minister is extremely important. We realize that.

Did the Prime Minister check the private charter prices? I did and he could have saved $125,000. Why not save money for a change? Quit being so reckless. Will he stop being reckless?

[Challenger Jet, April 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

It is with a heavy heart that I once again must ask the Prime Minister why he continues to waste tax dollars, this time on a sun and fun holiday among the palms of a Caribbean island.

It is reported the Prime Minister not only used a Challenger jet for a personal vacation, at a cost of slightly more than $250,000 using the Auditor General's formula, he allowed his hangers on and his flight crew to enjoy 10 days in the sun as well.

When will this Prime Minister realize Canadian taxpayers will not accept his free spending ways?

[National Parole Board, April 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, last week I attended a justice meeting in which a review of the National Parole Board was the topic of discussion.

The result of this meeting left me questioning the accountability of the parole board. During the course of the discussion it was proven again that the current system is flawed. One of the results of the meeting was the Solicitor General's proposing a disciplinary scheme for members of the parole board. The time and thought given to these cosmetic disciplinary changes has been wasted time. We should not be spending time on how to get rid of people, we should be ensuring that the board is competent from the beginning.

The public wants concrete changes, not cleanup measures. For accountability to be restored it has to begin at the top. This means the Solicitor General should consider placing a moratorium on the release of dangerous offenders coming up for parole until this whole system is revamped and meets the standard.

[Hiv Testing Program, April 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have looked at the report the hon. minister mentioned.

In section 2 of that report, which I believe was prepared on February 4, it was stated loud and clear that the HIV testing program currently in place is sadly lacking in a number of ways.

Could the minister tell me what steps are being taken to improve the situation?

[Hiv Testing Program, April 26th, 1994]

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

The government recognizes that inmates in federal prisons exist in medium to high risk exposure to AIDS because of the significant numbers of inmates who have a history of IV drug use, the continued drug use with unsterilized needles in prisons, inmates who receive tattoos with unsterilized needles, or engage in unprotected sexual relationships.

Considering the high cost in social and monetary terms AIDS imposes on society, why has this minister not instituted a concerted HIV testing program in prisons?

[Petitions, April 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am presenting a petition on behalf of slightly over 750 constituents of Wild Rose. They feel that the stop work order imposed on Sunshine Village that calls for yet another environmental study is an unnecessary cost to the taxpayers.

Numerous studies and public forums have already been held and expansion was approved by Liberal and Conservative governments during the past 16 years.

The petitioners therefore have called on Parliament to allow the expansion at Sunshine Village to go ahead as previously agreed to and without further costs to the taxpayers for repetitive environmental studies.