House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 56% of the vote.
Criminal Code November 25th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, this idea comes up from time to time. There are advantages. There are also policy considerations.
If the Government of Quebec has a formal request to make of us to amend the Criminal Code in this regard, I would hope it would be forthcoming. So far to my knowledge no such formal request has been made. If it has a request to make, we will be happy to consider it and discuss it with the other provincial governments and other parties that are affected.
Justice November 22nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member combines an ignorance of the law with a meanness of spirit when he puts that question.
In the first place, I am not the one who suggested Madam Justice Arbour, it was the United Nations Security Council. Second,
Madam Justice Arbour is not in breach of any Canadian law in taking a leave of absence for other purposes.
The prohibition in the Judges Act is against her taking money from any other source. It is that which is addressed by Bill C-42, which was passed by this House, sent back with an amendment by the Senate for reasons best known to the Senate, and which is now before this House for adoption with the Senate's change.
I emphasize that there is nothing unlawful or inconsistent with the Judges Act or any other law of Canada which Madam Justice Arbour has done.
Justice November 22nd, 1996
Mr. Speaker, it is discouraging to have to respond to that question and it is distressing that the question was put.
A few feet away from the member's place an exchange just occurred involving the Minister of Foreign Affairs who described to the House the honour that was done this country when one of our best, a judge of the Ontario Court of Appeal, was asked to assume responsibility as the chief prosecutor for war crimes. By unanimous resolution of the United Nations Security Council she was singled out for that task. She left her judicial duties. She took a leave of absence. She has travelled halfway around the world to work in difficult circumstances engaged in that crucial responsibility.
During the months that we have tried to amend the statute to overcome the technical prohibition against her being paid by others for doing that work, we have encountered nothing but meanspirited, narrow-focused and inappropriate objections from sources who somehow fail to grasp both the importance of that work and the honour that she brings to this country.
I invite the hon. member to rise above the niggling legalisms upon which he now relies for partisan purposes and to join with this government in making sure that Madam Justice Louise Arbour is permitted to do that work on behalf of Canada and on behalf of all humanity.
Quebec Referendum Act November 20th, 1996
Not in the least, Mr. Speaker. It is not our intention to take a position on the matters before the court. We have simply decided not to take part.
As I have said, the reason is clear. All points of view on these matters will be before the court. This is not, however, a federal government position which indicates our agreement with the act. It
is merely a decision to not take part in the appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Quebec Referendum Act November 20th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, we have no intention of taking part in the Libman case, because we are convinced that all points of view on the matter will be before the court.
Justice November 19th, 1996
It is by responding with the logic which I hope he is becoming used to day by day.
It was this government that two and a half years ago created the National Crime Prevention Council. It was this government that two and a half years ago began plotting a national crime prevention strategy. Through our policies and through our legislation we have done everything possible to strengthen families to make sure children are brought up in the stable environments that the hon. member refers to.
I want to talk about a measure that was passed by this House just yesterday. Bill C-41 strengthens the process by which child support payments are determined and enforced in this country. Those measures are going to assist in the support of children when parents divide.
As the Minister of Finance has told the House, the money we derive from the change in the tax system on child support is being devoted to a doubling of the working income supplement which over the next five years will put more than $1 billion of additional revenue into the hands of 700,000 Canadian families, fully one-third of which are single parent families, and that is going to help children.
Justice November 19th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, for my part I am quite used to questions from this member and I know exactly how to deal with them.
Gun Control November 8th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is relying upon information which bears the usual degree of unreliability when it comes from him and his colleagues.
We have not yet tabled the regulations. We have not yet tabled the fees, yet the hon. member is quoting numbers which I take it are intended to inflame passions and as usual to groundlessly frighten people.
When Canadians want advice, direction or policy about firearms in this country, they know where to look. They look to this government for sensible approaches.
It is clear where the Reform Party has come from. One of its riding association presidents in Alberta is Mr. Tomlinson, the president of the National Firearms Association. The national chair of the gun lobby is a riding president for the Reform Party. I think we can draw our own conclusions about the approach of the Reform Party toward firearms.
Gun Control November 8th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, first let me acknowledge and express how much we welcome more evidence of the Reform Party's newly found interest in jobs. It is nice to see.
Yes, we do acknowledge and recognize that hunting represents not only an important and traditional pastime, but also an important source of revenue and an economic activity in many parts of this country. It is for that reason that no part of Bill C-68 interferes in any way with the enjoyment by Canadians of hunting as a sport and a pastime.
On the subject of the regulations, let me make it clear that those regulations are now being drafted in consultation with all interested parties including outfitters, those who organize and are paid for working in hunting expeditions. We shall very much keep their interests in mind as we put the final touches on the regulations, including the fees.
Referendums November 8th, 1996
Mr. Speaker, it was my experience as an advocate in the courtroom that when one of the parties was completely without confidence in his or her position on the merits of the case, he or she would resort to tactics such as complaining about the date for hearing in order to distract attention from that weak position.
What we are witnessing in the House today is exactly that syndrome. Left completely without any argument on the merits of the case, finding themselves in a position that is untenable legally, the members of the Bloc Quebecois have resorted to the selection of the hearing date as a ground on which to resist this initiative which is intended to clarify and resolve legal questions that they themselves have raised.
I suggest this is conclusive evidence of the falsity of their position in the law.