Herb Gray

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I know full well that between November 1993 and January 1994, close to 80,000 cartons of cigarettes, 36,000 litres of alcohol and 150 vehicles were seized by the RCMP in Quebec alone. This shows that the RCMP is taking its responsibilities seriously and will continue to do so.

[Cigarette Smuggling, February 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is the RCMP's responsibility to enforce smuggling legislation throughout this country. I am confident that the RCMP is taking its responsibilities seriously and will continue to do so.

[Job Creation, January 31st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I remind my hon. friend of the speech from the throne setting out a comprehensive program to put into effect in this session and over the ensuing session the commitments of the Liberal program of action.

If my hon. friend is as concerned as he says he is about these matters we can expect his immediate and complete support as we bring these measures before the House? Will he give that commitment to us today?

[Job Creation, January 31st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend forgets that even before the House opened we announced a massive national program of infrastructure to create tens of thousands of jobs across Canada.

I expect if my hon. friend keeps in touch with the situation he will see other measures put on the Order Paper before too long to carry out our commitment to get the economy going and create a lot more jobs for Canadians.

[Housing Subsidies, January 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question. I will be happy to take it as notice, get further information and get back to her about it as quickly as possible.

[Leaders' Salaries, January 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the spokesman for the committee, the member for Saint-Léonard, I would like to inform the House that I have obtained information.

I am informed that what the then commissioners of internal economy did before the last election was based on precedents dating back for several elections and there is nothing different or untoward.

Therefore I think the hon. member should withdraw totally his allegations and innuendoes which are totally unfounded and mistaken.

[Business Of The House, January 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, today we will continue with debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne. As we know the House will sit until ten o'clock this evening. There will also be a continuation of the throne speech debate tomorrow.

If there is to be a vote on the motion, the vote will take place if necessary at 6 p.m. this coming Tuesday. On Monday the House will be asked to consider the motion of the Minister of Human Resources Development to establish the timeframe for a study by a committee of social programs. This motion and the text of it will be on the Notice Paper this evening. On Tuesday we will have a special pre-budget debate to enable members to state their views on what should be in the forthcoming budget.

On Wednesday, depending on the extent of our consultations with other parties on this matter, we could debate a motion on parliamentary reform.

[Cigarette Smuggling, January 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the press plays a very useful role in this country, but it is not the equivalent of proof on the basis of which charges can be laid and on the basis of which after a trial where the burden of proof is on the Crown there will be convictions.

I will draw the attention of the RCMP to my hon. friend's suggestions. I am sure they will take them into account in doing the work for which they are world famous.

[Cigarette Smuggling, January 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is up to the RCMP, in consultation with Crown prosecutors, to decide when there is enough proof not only to lay charges, but charges that will lead to convictions.

I do not think it is for me to interfere in these operational decisions of the force. I think that courts in the past have demanded more than nightly television programs on which to base findings of guilt.

[Cigarette Smuggling, January 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, yes, so far the RCMP has given priority to fighting the big criminal rings that smuggle tobacco. As I just said, it is up to the RCMP to give the Crown prosecutor evidence and if the evidence is suitable, the people involved will be charged.