Grant Hill

[Health, October 26th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the health minister is now going to stockpile vaccine against smallpox.

I would like to quote what my medical textbook says about the terrorism threat:

The recurrence of smallpox resulting from a deliberate release of variola virus cannot be ruled out. However, the potential damage of such an act should not be exaggerated.

Why has the health minister not quietly stockpiled smallpox vaccine instead of making a big announcement so that he can divert attention away from his other problems with Cipro?

[Health, October 24th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, back to the Cipro blunder, the minister says that he needed an extra million doses for the weekend in case of infection over the weekend. He has hidden from the Canadian public that he had 800,000 doses available to him legally through Bayer.

Could the minister explain why those 800,000 doses were so quietly kept secret?

[Health, October 23rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's actions have cost the taxpayer millions. I am reminded of the Airbus fiasco. I am reminded of the hepatitis C fiasco. Now we have the Cipro blunder.

Once again, will the minister accept the principle of ministerial responsibility and recognize that his mistakes are costly to the Canadian taxpayer? Yes or no.

[Health, October 23rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the awarding of the anti-anthrax drug Cipro would be understandable to every Canadian if in fact there was an emergency. However, the minister, by his own words, said that there was no emergency, that there was no anthrax in Canada and that they had some Cipro on the shelf for that emergency.

Will the minister accept the principle of ministerial responsibility and be responsible for his department.? Yes or no.

[Immigration, October 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, obviously the answer is no.

Listen to the stuff this guy provided: mine detection and blasting equipment, aircraft analysis software, stun guns, photographic equipment, global positioning equipment. This is not the sort of fellow that I think we should have on bail in Canada.

This minister has the power to extradite. I ask again, is she going to do it?

[Immigration, October 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, that was a smear and nothing but a smear.

Let me switch over to the justice minister. Yesterday in Vancouver a man who was wanted in the U.S. for being a purchasing agent for Hezbollah was released on bail. The justice minister has the power and the authority to extradite this individual so that he can face those accusations in the States. Will she do it?

[Airline Industry, October 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the transport minister has said that he does not favour air marshals on planes because airports can be made totally secure.

That would be fine except last Sunday in Toronto an airport worker was observed going around the security measures, obviously a friend of someone who was doing that screening. If pilots, passengers and janitors must go through then so too should airport workers. That is not very comforting. This was reported to Transport Canada and no action has been taken yet.

Air marshals would make passengers more comfortable. They would not carry weapons that would puncture the fuselage of a plane but a specific weapon that would take out a terrorist. I believe the use of air marshals would be sensible and I believe most Canadians share that feeling.

[Anti-Terrorism Legislation, October 18th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, it is my fault for telling the truth.

Every year at least 5,000 people come to Canada without proper documentation claiming to be refugees. How many of those individuals this year has the minister detained? How many this year?

[Anti-Terrorism Legislation, October 18th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure the Senate agrees with the minister.

In June 1998 the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration recommended, and I quote:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada should detain in cases where the identity of a person is not established.

The minister refused.

Why does the minister allow even one solitary soul who comes to Canada without proper documentation to wander our streets freely?

[Terrorism, October 17th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has warned this government that terrorist cells in Canada are hiding behind false refugee claims and committing theft and fraud in order to finance their activities.

Why does the anti-terrorism bill not provide police with the tools they require in order to ensure that terrorists do not abuse our country's generosity?