David Collenette

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, again many of the criticisms that hon. members have on the bill actually are covered by the Aeronautics Act as it is. What I have said consistently is that we have been more concerned with ensuring that regulations are improved and enforced, and worrying about who does it and who pays for it at a later date, but that is under review. We are close to making a decision. That decision will be a very costly one. It is one that the Minister of Finance must take into account in his financial planning.

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the whole issue of regulatory power, not just for Transport Canada but for other departments, is so that the government can act in an urgent circumstance. I think Canadians would support that.

What Canadians also want is that their basic rights are protected under the charter and under other laws and that basic parliamentary procedures are followed.

If the hon. member reads the act carefully, he will see that all of that is there.

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I guarantee here in the House of Commons that all provisions of this bill are consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is vital to Canadian democracy.

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, in a situation of urgency and difficulty like we saw on September 11, Canadians want to know that their government can act. That is what Transport Canada did.

Transport Canada has the authority under the Aeronautics Act to close the skies, as did the FAA in the United States.

Where urgent regulations are made, there are safeguards. They must be gazetted. No one can be forced to pay a penalty or have harm come to them as a result of the measure not being gazetted. There are safeguards in the legislation.

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

That is not at all the case, Mr. Speaker. What we have in the bill right now is the groundwork for taking action in an urgent situation. I think that all Canadians want to see the government take effective action in an emergency.

There are provisions in the bill to protect the rights of parliament, to protect the rights of parliamentarians, and to protect the rights of Canadians as well.

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's theory seems to be when in doubt, fall back on the whole question of air marshals.

He talked about cockpit door enforcement. We have the authority already and we have done it. The training of flight crews; we have the authority. The so-called air marshals; we have the authority because we have them on the flights to Washington already. The 100% screening; we have the authority. Secure access to aircraft; we have the authority. The penalties for interfering with screeners; we have the authority. Co-ordinated security; we have the solid links.

Why does the hon. member not read the act as it is and he will understand what is in it and what is not in it?

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I sat in the House earlier, after the hon. member made his statement. Of course I did not have the right of reply but I have it now.

He listed a whole range of things that he says the Americans have in their legislation that we do not have in ours. It is not in the bill because it is in the act as it stands. We have been ahead of the Americans. I would like him to get that and appreciate that.

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, something the Leader of the Opposition has overlooked is that the Aeronautics Act has given the powers traditionally to the Minister of Transport to put in the kind of regulations that all people feel necessary.

I would ask the hon. Leader of the Opposition this weekend to go home to Calgary and read the Aeronautics Act as it is. He will see that we have the power. We have used the power and that is why we have the best security system.

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, this is incredible. The Leader of the Opposition is a Calgary MP and makes weekly use of airline services.

All passengers are aware that we have stepped up security regulations throughout the country, because we have the best security in the world.

[Airline Security, November 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I do not mind the hon. Leader of the Opposition rising today to make his point, but please, I ask him to not make false statements like that in the House of Commons.

The fact of the matter is, every aspect of aviation security is under review and has been under review since September. We have not precluded any measure. In fact on the particular issue of armed force on airplanes, which seems to titillate the member to no end, we have made those provisions for certain flights because the U.S. requested them to Washington Reagan airport.