House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 56% of the vote.
Gun Control November 29th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, none of the above.
The fact is that I see no reason why the report should not be made available to members of Parliament. Had I known of the member's interest, I would have provided him with a copy.
I can tell the hon. member that the report evaluates the system for the registration of handguns and finds weaknesses and areas for improvement. It has been very valuable as we have looked at ways to design, should we decide to do such a thing, a registration system for the people.
Gun Control November 29th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, that is the report to which I referred.
Child Support November 29th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I have been working with colleagues in cabinet on the questions my hon. colleague has put this afternoon to prepare improvements to the legal system concerning the payment and taxation of child support.
I can tell my hon. colleague that the proposals on which we are working will deal with three matters: first, the method by which the amounts of child support are determined; second, the method by which they are taxed; and, third, the creation of a national strategy to enforce these orders once they are made.
In connection with the first and the third of them, we have also been working closely with provincial and territorial counterparts to ensure that the process is integrated.
The ministers of finance, human resources development, revenue and my colleague, the Secretary of State for the Status of Women, will be bringing forward specific proposals including, as necessary, changes to statutes when our preparations are complete.
Firearms November 23rd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, rather than comment on specific cases that have been selected for the member's own purposes I would like to speak about the criminal law in general.
We are in the course of preparing for presentation to the House of Commons comprehensive proposals with respect to firearms that will disclose the government's priorities in relation to safety and criminal law.
The hon. member will find, when they are presented, that they are entirely consistent with the public interest which is safety in Canadian society.
Firearms November 23rd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I will not comment on the sentences in those specific cases because I do not know the facts beyond what the hon. member has said.
The hon. member and I are on common ground in terms of the need for stern and certain punishment for the kinds of offences he has described.
The government will be introducing in the House during the coming weeks specific proposals in relation to firearms that will include very significant changes to the penalty provisions for the kinds of crime he has described.
Justice November 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, as I have already told the House, we shall make every effort to have an amendment to the code prepared for introduction shortly after the House resumes following the Christmas break. That time will be necessary to take into account the considerations that arise.
May I add that those cases which may come before the courts in the meantime will do so with the admonition of the Supreme Court of Canada itself that this defence is available in the rarest of cases. The onus is on the accused to demonstrate that the principle applies.
Justice November 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, what is needed in order to act responsibly is to take into account the views Canadians want to express on how this law should work. For example I have already been put on notice by women's groups that they disagree with the proposals contained in the discussion paper. They want to speak with me directly about alternatives.
We must confront questions about how to design this law so that it withstands an attack under the charter. We do not want an amendment that is struck down six months from now leaving us back where we began. We will take the time necessary to get it right.
Justice November 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, in my view the present state of the law in respect of self-induced intoxication is unsatisfactory. The government has already published a blueprint for change which initiated a consultation process some two weeks ago.
I share the sense of urgency expressed by my hon. colleague and other members of the House. We are doing everything possible to accelerate the preparation of a new provision in the Criminal Code in this regard. Indeed we will make every effort to prepare an amendment for introduction in the House shortly after we resume in session following the Christmas break.
Justice November 21st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, since the publication of the consultation document 10 days ago I have heard from among others women's groups from across the country that are very anxious to speak with me in detail about the proposals because they are very concerned about the suggestion of a criminal intoxication offence.
I want to hear them out. I want to listen to the provincial attorneys general who will enforce this law. I want to discuss this with the people who participate with the federal government in the administration of the justice system and I want to prepare a law that is going to get it right. That is my opinion.
Justice November 21st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I am concerned enough and this government is concerned enough to end it as soon as we can responsibly prepare a provision for the Criminal Code that will withstand an attack under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that will achieve the objective we all have in mind which is accountability in the criminal law.