Herb Gray

[Security Intelligence Review Committee, December 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the Security Intelligence Review Committee was created by an act of Parliament, adopted by this House and the other place, to operate at arm's length from CSIS, at arm's length from the minister, at arm's length from the government. In short, it operates very much like a permanent commission of inquiry. It presented its report. I tabled that report in the House today.

I understand the hon. leader's question. However, I think that question would best be put to SIRC itself. I understand its members are appearing before a subcommittee of the justice committee tomorrow. That would be a very good vehicle for asking such questions.

[Security Intelligence Review Committee, December 15th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, in order to comply with the order of the House made earlier this day, I am now tabling copies, in both official languages, of the report of the Security Intelligence Review Committee entitled "The Heritage Front Affair".

[Security Intelligence Review Committee, December 14th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised at the tone of my hon. friend's question.

I thought she would be delighted to learn that my objective is to have the material available for her and all members of the House tomorrow. I thought she would give me some applause for that. Again I am very surprised at her question.

[Security Intelligence Review Committee, December 14th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my objective is to have the material available to members of the House tomorrow.

[Government Business, December 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we have a program of legislation with which we are proceeding. I expect the legislation the hon. member mentioned will be tabled shortly after we come back in February.

Even if the legislation had been tabled this week there would not have been time to do anything more than open debate. That is a fact in reality the hon. member should recognize as House leader for his party.

[Canadian Security Intelligence Service, December 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, according to the legislation governing CSIS, the report is submitted to the Solicitor General. It is therefore the Solicitor General's responsibility to decide on the best way to release the report. My responsibilities include making sure that when I release the report, I am guided by the appropriate provisions of the Privacy Act and the CSIS Act. I trust the hon. member would want me to take seriously the legislation adopted by Parliament in this respect.

[Canadian Security Intelligence Service, December 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we must not make any final decisions. I said that I wanted to release as much as I could of the SIRC report, in accordance with the appropriate legislation. We still have the entire report under review. I hope I will be able to announce a decision very shortly.

[Canadian Security Intelligence Service, December 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I just received the report about an hour ago. I did not have time to review it. However, I think that SIRC knew about Mr. Christie's allegations and I look forward to reviewing this report because, as I just said, I intend to make public as much of it as possible.

Earlier this morning I received the report of the Security Intelligence Review Committee on the allegations involving the Heritage Front. It is a very comprehensive and bulky report. I have not had time to review it. I intend to do this as quickly as possible. Once I complete this review I will be able to make decisions about how much can be made public in the light of the relevant legislation.

It is my intention to make as much of this report public as possible because of the interest in its contents, as much as I can in the light of the legislation that deals with this matter.

[Canadian Security Intelligence Service, December 9th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I just received SIRC's report this morning. It is a very bulky report. I must review it and see what I can do about making it public in the light of the relevant legislation. I intend to make public as much of this report as possible, and I will make the necessary decisions as soon as possible.

[Business Of The House, December 8th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, today we are going to continue with the Bloc opposition day and there will be votes on supply at 5.30 this afternoon.

Tomorrow we are going to call third reading of Bill C-51, the grain bill, and Bill C-56, the Environmental Assessment Act amendments, followed if possible by report stage of Bill C-52, the Department of Public Works and Government Services reorganization.

On Monday we will take up where we left off on Friday and follow this business with report stage of Bill C-44 with respect to immigration. On Monday as well we expect to introduce legislation regarding employment equity. We intend to propose that this bill be referred to committee before second reading pursuant to Standing Order 73(1).

This will both meet the legislative requirement for a parliamentary review of existing legislation and provide the House with the most broad possible opportunities for updating the law on this matter. Subject to progress on other legislation, we would like to add this matter to the business for Tuesday.

On Wednesday we intend to deal with report stage of Bill C-53, the Canadian Heritage reorganization bill. On Thursday we will deal with third reading of that bill.

That completes my weekly business statement.