Herb Gray

[Immigration, February 23rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I have before me the statements made today by the minister in which he categorically denies having intervened directly or indirectly in the case of Gaetano Amodeo, an Italian national now being detained by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

I am replying to the question because I have the statements by the minister, who is not in the House today.

[Immigration, February 23rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member said something about the minister of public works that is absolutely inaccurate and has been categorically denied by him. I want to read in part from a statement that he issued today.

Mr. Gagliano repeats that the only correspondence by the staff in his constituency office...

—this is not from him—

—sought to enquire about the progress in the file of Maria Sicurella, who had applied for permanent resident status.

The hon. member should withdraw her allegation. The minister did not write a letter in the way she said, or any letter, in support—

[Fundraising, February 23rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. minister gave a very clear answer. She attended what she considered to be a cultural event. She made a vigorous plea for settling problems in Sri Lanka by peaceful negotiations.

Why does the Alliance oppose that type of constructive effort and engage in what amounts to a smear of hundreds of thousands of people of Tamil origin in the country who are not involved in terrorism or anything inappropriate in this country or in Sri Lanka?

[Pensions, February 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. It is one that has been raised with a number of us in our capacity as MPs by British subjects resident in Canada. I understand it is totally a matter for the British authorities.

The Prime Minister's discussions with Mr. Blair have not yet concluded. I hope to have a report for the House tomorrow. The hon. member has raised an important subject of interest to many of us on both sides of the House.

[Fundraising, February 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am looking at the language of the factum and the hon. member goes far beyond what the factum says. This is a matter being argued in court.

I suggest to her, because of the sensitive nature of the court case, that she be careful in her language and that she not try to stereotype or smear several hundred thousand good Canadians with her language.

[Fundraising, February 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend is starting out with something which I do not think is correct. I am advised that this dinner, a social and cultural event involving the Tamil New Year, was not a fundraising dinner. It was also attended by some 25 elected people at the municipal and Ontario Conservative provincial levels, including the editor of the Toronto Sun .

Is he trying to smear them as well in saying they are knowingly attending a fundraising dinner for terrorism? That could not be accurate and what he is saying could not be accurate either.

[Business Development Bank Of Canada, February 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I reject completely the unwarranted premise of the hon. member's question. He really has a lot of nerve lecturing me about the law. Which law school did he ever graduate from?

[Business Development Bank Of Canada, February 22nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member wants me to use the House of Commons to interfere in a court proceeding now underway. I do not think this is the way to use the House of Commons. If the leader of the Conservative Party wants to do that, he has to bear the responsibility for this improper interference.

[Public Service, February 21st, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, senior officials who are directly connected with the file, veterinary scientists and officials of the health department linked with the file are giving full information.

She mentioned a court case. I understand the fact situation is different. I also remind her that these types of matters which involve employees are not matters where ministers of the government are directly involved. However, the official in question has recourse to a full grievance procedure. I am sure she is aware of her rights in that regard.

[Public Service, February 21st, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I should remind the House that the individual in question was not working on this file. This was not within her area of responsibility in the health department. She was not an employee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

This individual has available to her a full grievance procedure and eventually, if she wants, recourse through the courts. She is represented by her union. Under the circumstances I think it is appropriate to confirm that ordinarily ministers and members are not involved in these types of public service decisions.