Herb Gray

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in this matter the RCMP is acting as the provincial police service pursuant to an agreement between the federal government and the Government of British Columbia whereby the RCMP acts as the provincial police. This is a matter for the attorney general of British Columbia.

[Budget Implementation Act, 1995, June 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That, in relation to Bill C-76, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 27, 1995, not more than one further sitting day shall be allotted to the consideration of the report stage of the bill and one sitting day shall be allotted to the third reading stage of the said bill and 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for government business on the day allotted to the consideration of the report stage and on the day allotted to the third reading stage of the said bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this Order, and in turn every question necessary for the disposal of the stage of the bill then under consideration shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.

[Mining Exploration And Development, June 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I move-

[Alzheimer's Registry, June 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the registry is intended to help locate and identify missing individuals with Alzheimer's or related conditions. It will help to ensure that the risk to them because of their condition is mitigated and limited. It will also reassure their families and caregivers.

I am very pleased that we could work on this project together with the Alzheimer's Society of Canada and the department of health. The program will be managed by the Alzheimer's Society of Canada and its branches across the country. It will use the RCMP's Canadian police information computer system.

I think this is a wonderful example of police-community co-operation. I am very glad that the federal government has been able to facilitate the project.

[Canadian Wheat Board, June 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would have hoped the hon. member would have confirmed, on behalf of his colleague, that the letter the deputy commissioner of the RCMP sent to him explaining the involvement of the RCMP in the matter be made public. I think that would be a better way to clear the air than to keep asking this kind of question.

There must be some other matters the hon. member could deal with rather than attempting to create wrong impressions which should be the subject of an apology.

[Canadian Wheat Board, June 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have conveyed to the House, and earlier to the hon. member's colleague, information provided to me by the commissioner of the RCMP.

The deputy commissioner for operations of the RCMP today sent a letter to the hon. member's colleague setting out the position of the RCMP on the matter. If the hon. member's colleague will agree, I would be delighted to ensure that the letter is released to the public. I think it should clear the air and help the hon. member to get on to something more constructive.

[Business Of The House, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I will have to check the Order Paper and get back to my hon. friend. If he would like me to say something to be recorded in Hansard , I will rise on a point of order, or my parliamentary secretary will, and provide the information.

That motion is to set up a special joint committee of the House and Senate to consider a code of conduct for members and senators. Certainly it is our desire to have such a committee set up.

If the hon. member now wishes to have such a committee set up as does his colleagues, then I will be happy to consult with him, or my parliamentary secretary will, to find the appropriate time to bring that debate quickly to an end so the work of the joint committee can begin.

[Business Of The House, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present the weekly business statement.

Tomorrow the House will consider third reading of Bill C-75, the farm loans legislation and all stages of Bill C-81 respecting the Buffalo-Fort Erie bridge. I understand there is agreement to complete both these bills tomorrow.

On Monday and Tuesday, we will consider Bill C-76, the budget implementation bill and Wednesday shall be the final allotted day in the present supply period.

[Canadian Wheat Board, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP will provide further information about the way it dealt with the matter.

I put on record an accurate quote from my letter of March 28: "The commissioner of the RCMP has informed me that the commercial crime section in Winnipeg has reviewed your", the hon. member for Lisgar-Marquette, "allegations and the RCMP has concluded there is no basis to support an investigation into the Canadian Wheat Board. However, the commissioner has informed me that the RCMP is willing to examine any new information you might have to support these allegations".

I transmitted to the hon. member information provided me by the RCMP and I think if the hon. member and his colleagues had any respect for Parliament they would apologize for the unwarranted accusation.

If they will not apologize and withdraw their unwarranted accusations, everything they say about their respect for Parliament and making it a better place is nothing but a sham.

[Canadian Wheat Board, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I think my hon. friend is misinterpreting my letter.

My office took the material given to it by the member's colleague. According to our practice it was transmitted to the RCMP for such action as it considered appropriate.

It has not been my practice or custom to give direction to the RCMP on matters of investigation. Information was provided to me by the commissioner of the RCMP who reviewed the matter and decided that on the basis of that material there were not grounds for a criminal investigation. That information was put in my letter to the hon. member's colleague.

The whole thing is quite consistent with what I said in my letter. I regret my hon. friend keeps pursuing the matter in spite of the totally inappropriate conduct of his colleague. Instead of pursuing the matter he should get his colleague to apologize.