Bob Dechert

[Business of Supply, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, members will probably know that prior to being elected to this place, my hon. colleague was the president of the Economic Club of Toronto. This is a man who really knows what he is talking about. I think it showed from the speech he just made and his answers to the questions.

I represent the city of Mississauga in the greater Toronto area. The cost of living is high there. The cost of housing is high and the cost of transportation is high. Tax relief for families is important to our community and it benefits everyone in our community.

Because of our policies, the average family of four saves almost $3,400 a year in taxes. That is contributing to increases in the net worth of families in places like Mississauga and their incomes, and it is a good thing for all of Canada.

[Justice, June 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-36, like all legislation, is reviewed by Department of Justice officials in terms of its constitutionality. The bill certainly does meet the requirements of the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Members will have an opportunity to debate the bill in the House later this week and later at the justice committee. It will become apparent to them that the bill addresses all of the issues raised by the Supreme Court and provides for those involved in sex work to do it safely.

[Justice, June 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, Bill C-36 is our government's response to the Bedford decision. In our view, it meets every test of the Supreme Court decision and will be upheld by the Supreme Court in accordance with Bedford. It is the role of the government to propose legislation, and it is the job of all parliamentarians to debate that legislation. We are looking forward to the debate here in Parliament later this week.

[Justice, June 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that it is for the government to propose legislation, and it is for Parliament and all of its members to debate that legislation. Perhaps they do not want to.

The Supreme Court's decision in Bedford was clear, raising concerns about the security and safety of women who find themselves in this inherently dangerous line of work. That decision has informed our bill. It protects the victims of prostitution by criminalizing the pimps and johns who fuel the demand for this dangerous activity, while putting in place measures that protect our communities, our children, and other vulnerable Canadians.

[Victims Bill of Rights, June 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am very excited about this legislation. Victims have been asking about it for years.

I am really pleased that my colleague pointed out the restitution provisions in the bill, because we need to recognize the enormous cost of crime upon victims in Canada. My colleague also mentioned the victims surcharge and other issues. I wonder if he could tell us how the bill would be implemented and what funding might be available for its implementation.

[Privacy, May 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that Bill C-13 does not create any new protection from criminal or civil liability for those who voluntarily assist law enforcement. It simply clarifies existing protections under section 25 in the case law.

I would suggest she take a look at that.

[Justice, May 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, if the member is looking for individuals who breach confidence, he perhaps should look more on his side of the House than on this side of the House.

The minister has made it very clear. He is consulting broadly with relevant stakeholders in the province of Quebec, including the Quebec minister of justice. We will move expeditiously to fill all vacancies on the Supreme Court.

[Justice, May 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, that member wants the minister to consult broadly with relevant stakeholders in the province of Quebec, which he is doing. We are moving as expeditiously as possible to fill the vacancy created by Justice Fish.

[Justice, May 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has had very productive meetings with Minister Vallée and the Quebec legal community. As always, we consulted a broad range of relevant stakeholders.

We have made it clear that we will respect the letter and the spirit of the Supreme Court decision. We are moving expeditiously to fill the vacancy created by Justice Fish at the Supreme Court.

[Tackling Contraband Tobacco Act, May 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it is a very good question, and the answer is yes, there are many programs that the government is supporting to reduce the use of tobacco among all Canadians, especially our youth. The ministry of health has one in particular. We have introduced new warning labels on packages of cigarettes and little cigars. These labels have a phone number for a national quit line and a website address for people who want help in quitting.

We have banned flavoured little cigars, which were targeted toward youth. In my constituency, I have seen young people go into convenience stores and try to buy the little banana-flavoured or cherry-flavoured cigars. That is a way of getting them hooked on tobacco, making it sweet and palatable to them.

We renewed the federal tobacco strategy in 2012 for five years, and Health Canada will continue to work on tobacco control initiatives that aim to preserve the gains made over the past 10 years to continue the downward trend in smoking prevalence.