Deborah Grey

[Reform Party, September 19th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, so the government is taking over Reform's turf, at least according to Rosemary Speirs of the Toronto Star . I would like to take this opportunity to challenge the Liberals on this mock takeover of our turf.

Indeed, during the past year the Reform Party has been effective in setting the national agenda. I ask, why is the government focusing constantly on deficit reduction, criminal justice and immigration? It is because Reform members have brought these issues to the forefront time and time again. Because of this debate Canadians are aware of the ineffective status quo system and are demanding changes.

On closer scrutiny, these well informed Canadians will soon realize that these cosmetic changes have not changed the system fundamentally. The Reform Party would be delighted to see its policies being implemented. But please take the entire package, not just the label.

The Liberals cannot claim to have taken over Reform's turf. In fact this is no more than astro turf, a poor substitute for the real thing.

[Constable Todd Baylis, June 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it has been talked about these being rare cases. This is no comfort to that particular family. Last year, of 25,000 deportations ordered less than 9,000 were actually carried out. Of these more than 3,000 are criminal immigrants who cannot be located. It makes Canadians wonder how many Clinton Gayles there are out there.

Yesterday immigration officials in Toronto refused to round up deportees without police backup. One immigration officer said "we're under-staffed, under-trained and under-equipped". It is obvious that there are fundamental flaws in the system.

Will the minister launch a full investigation into the entire deportation system and will he make a report public before we return in September in order to prevent more tragedies?

[Constable Todd Baylis, June 22nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Constable Todd Baylis will be buried today.

On Monday the Minister of Human Resources Development said the man charged with his murder was never deported because the Canadian government had difficulty obtaining travel documents for him. It has since been reported that Clinton Gayle's travel documents were in order but the immigration department lost track of his file. Jamaica's consul-general said her office has no record of Canadian officials applying for such documents.

The minister promised an investigation immediately into this tragedy. This session is about to end. We need answers today. Can the minister of immigration tell us the results of this investigation today?

[Yukon First Nations Land Claims Settlement Act, June 21st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. It seemed to me that this was a treatise about the Yukon self-government bill not about how dreadful the Reform Party is. We were asked to keep these discussions specifically to the amendment. I would ask the hon. member to withdraw that and address-

[Excise Tax Act, June 21st, 1994]

Pass the butt.

[Excise Tax Act, June 21st, 1994]

Pass the buck.

[Immigration, June 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we do appreciate the concern on the government side but this just continues to happen week after week after week. We bring in examples of this.

I believe these particular reforms would have had no effect in this case. Clinton Gayle was ordered deported but that order, like thousands more, was not carried out.

Under this minister, staff on the front lines have been cut and as a result only 40 per cent of deportation orders are being carried out. There are now only 30 officers responsible for the deportation of 40,000 illegal immigrants in Toronto.

Will the minister admit that his alleged deportation reforms are virtually useless because of his cuts to enforcement and will he accept accountability for this latest, needless tragedy.

[Immigration, June 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the minister of immigration has on several occasions said that immigrants who commit crimes are few and far between.

This is no comfort to the family of Constable Todd Baylis of the Toronto police department who was gunned down last week by an immigrant who had been ordered deported in March 1991.

Can the minister tell the House how it is that after having been ordered out of the country and after having an appeal denied, this 10-time repeat criminal could still be in Canada to commit the terrible crime for which he is now charged?

[Canadian Association Of Lutheran Congregations, June 14th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-210 which we are looking at now is my bill and we are certainly prepared to go on that. We appreciate the spirit of harmony that we have just experienced on Bill S-5 which I sponsored. Perhaps we can look forward to Bill C-210 going through at all stages just as quickly and harmoniously as that.

[Canadian Association Of Lutheran Congregations, June 14th, 1994]

moved that Bill S-5, an act to incorporate the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to speak on behalf of my colleague from Calgary Northeast regarding the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations.

Lutheranism in Canada has been a long and honourable tradition. The first Lutheran service was conducted in 1619 by Chaplain Rasmus Jensen at Port Churchill, Manitoba as part of Jens Munk Expedition.

The first Lutheran congregation was organized at Halifax in 1752. Lutherans have made a valuable contribution to the cultural heritage of Canadians and currently Lutherans in Canada form the fourth largest Christian church.

It is as a part of this proud tradition in Canada that the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations seeks incorporation. This association was organized in October of 1992 and currently has functioned as an unincorporated non-profit association of congregations and individuals.

Currently there are over 1,000 persons throughout the three western provinces and six congregations in the association and its organization.

The organization is intended to have two functions. First, it will act as a denomination for congregations wishing to join it. As well, there may be associate members, either persons or congregations, agreeing with the goals, aims and theology of the association. This association seeks a return to Lutheran roots with its emphasis on Scripture, missions and Lutheran theology.

I raise that point and know that we can dispose of this as quickly as possible so it may be incorporated as quickly as the House can deal with it.

I suspect there is unanimous consent for the following:

That notwithstanding any standing order and the usual practices of the House, Bill S-5, an act to incorporate the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations, be now called for second reading and that the House proceed to dispose of the said bill at all stages, including committee of the whole.