Martin Cauchon

[Gun Registry, May 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, what a strange question. The member knows I am accountable for the firearms program. He knows that very well. He knows what I said yesterday, but if he does not know, he should maybe know better.

Actually, the question he is referring to is covered by the Privacy Act and based on the Privacy Act I cannot comment about any individuals who have access to the program across Canada. It is as simple as that.

[Criminal Code, May 7th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, in asking this type of question, the member could just as easily be asking it about any number of people anywhere in Canada.

He asks it knowing full well that the information to which he refers is confidential and I cannot comment on it in compliance with the Privacy Act.

Secondly, if there were any knowledge over on that side of how the firearm registration system operated, they would go and ask their question of the Quebec civil servant who was responsible, because under the agreement with the government of Quebec, all this is administered by a special section of the Sûreté du Québec.

[Parole, May 7th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, these are two services with a good reputation across Canada.

Again, the National Parole Board is an independent administrative tribunal. At this point, I think it is perfectly appropriate for these two organizations, namely the Correctional Service of Canada and the National Parole Board, to conduct an indepth and thorough investigation into this matter.

[Parole, May 7th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, this individual has been arrested and is now under custody.

The parole board is of course an independent administrative tribunal. This being said, the Correctional Service of Canada and the National Parole Board will conduct a national investigation on this issue.

[Gun Registry, May 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know why the hon. member keeps attacking the gun registry system. It is a very good system that this government has put in place.

Let me quote what the leader of the Canadian Alliance once said “It is an issue that is dividing caucus. I support the concept of gun control and I will be putting out my own survey to find out how my constituents feel”.

He supports it. We support it in order to ensure that we keep building a safe society.

[Gun Registry, May 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have said many times in the House that when the government decided to proceed with the gun registration system we wanted to put in place the philosophy that would ensure that we would keep building a safer community. The gun registration system has been working very well on the licensing side and on the registration side.

If members look at the declaration that has been made by the new leader of the Canadian Alliance, they will see that party's caucus is deeply divided on the question.

[Workplace Safety, May 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I will say again that I am glad the member is raising a very serious issue and a very important question. There are many other questions to be asked with regard to liability within the criminal code. As I said, I am glad to report that we have prepared a discussion paper for the committee. Of course we will assist the members of the committee and will get involved with the process if requested.

[Workplace Safety, May 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the member is indeed referring to a very serious issue and we are pleased to see that the standing committee will be proceeding with some hearings about that subject.

I would like to draw everyone's attention to the fact that the Department of Justice has prepared a corporate criminal liability discussion paper to help the committee. Of course the department will get involved in the process and will be of assistance.

[Divorce Act, April 29th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for the work he has done as a member of the joint committee.

I would like to say that based on the Divorce Act, I am obliged to proceed in tabling a report five years after the implementation of the child support guidelines, which we will do right after question period. The results are very positive. There are 12 recommendations.

Of course in the Speech from the Throne we said that we would move ahead, as well as my predecessor, and I intend to personally meet with some stakeholders in order to proceed this fall with changes, whether in the legislation or in the question of services.

[Child Protection, April 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member knew what he was talking about he would know we had Bill C-15A in the House. He would also know that there are provisions in the criminal code with respect to child pornography.

What I have said many times during the past weeks is that the government has been working and will keep on working. We will proceed with a good consultation process involving parliamentarians and we will look at the existing provisions to see if we can add more offences to the criminal code.