Derek Lee

[Prisons And Reformatories Act, September 24th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the last two speakers from the Reform Party have spent an awful lot of time focusing on the general background of criminal law legislation, the fears of Canadians and those types of things. While those issues are important, although I am not saying I agree that there is all this fear they say is out there, surely they again have missed the point of dealing with the legislation at hand and I want to ask the hon. member to comment on this.

This particular statute addresses the institutional aspects of responding to criminal behaviour after people have been sentenced by the courts. It deals with institutions that deal with offenders who have sentences up to two years.

The federal legislation for the federal institutions that deal with all of the other longer term offenders, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, was recently amended here in this House for the second time. First on the list it deals prominently with public safety.

This statute which we debate here is an attempt to parallel and incorporate much of what is in that CCRA statute by concept and it deals with the administration of temporary absences. It tightens up on the administrative ability to terminate, cancel and administer them. In other words, addressing public safety.

Does the hon. member not think he has failed in addressing this bill to and acknowledge that the government in this case is updating the Prisons and Reformatories Act to bring it in line with the CCRA, which has as its number one focus protection and safety of the public?

[Criminal Code, September 24th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I could not let the moment pass. I listened to colleagues opposite who have made a point here this afternoon of detailing in debate how bad things are. I do not for a moment think the Canadian criminal justice system is nearly as bad as they say it is.

The most important thing I want to say here today is that both of my colleagues opposite have failed to address the bill that is being debated here now. Each one of them has criticized the section 745 procedure that is now in the Criminal Code. They have attempted to outline why it is unbalanced, unfair, inappropriate, unjust. But neither one of them has stated what this bill, which amends the section 745 procedure, does.

It attempts to redress the perceived unfairness that existed in that procedure. It increases the criteria that would enable someone convicted of a capital crime, someone who is serving more than 15 years in prison, to readdress the issue of parole ineligibility.

This bill raises the bar, raises the standards so it will be extremely difficult for someone to obtain a reduction in the period of parole ineligibility. Some of my colleagues think this bill goes too far and is too strict and will make it virtually impossible for a convict to obtain a reduction in a parole ineligibility period.

I know most of my colleagues on this side of the House support the bill, support the purpose for which it was put forward. They believe it will redress inequities perceived by the Canadian public with respect to the application of this section.

In case anyone would want to take members opposite as having the complete picture on criminal justice reform, each of the colleagues opposite has failed to note criminal law reform initiatives, statutes passed in this House involving the corrections act, the Criminal Code, the Young Offenders Act and the Prisons and Reformatories Act, all of which have been passed and are being worked on by this Parliament. Not a mention of these progressive reforms in the criminal justice area. I wanted the record to show that just in case anybody might have failed to note that.

[Communications Security Establishment, June 19th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, in March of last year the House unanimously voted to recommend the establishment of an independent mechanism to review the operations of the Communications Security Establishment, a Canadian intelligence agency that has no statutory mandate or control.

My question is for the Minister of National Defence. Further to his recent statements on the issue, can he tell the House now what action the government will take to provide greater public scrutiny of the CSE and its operations?

[Petitions, June 12th, 1996]

Madam Speaker, I have the privilege of presenting a petition signed by approximately 60 people from the Scarborough area calling on Parliament to take notice of the inadequacies in the sentencing regimes of those convicted of criminal impaired driving causing death and recommending that Parliament consider enacting a

sentence regime of between seven and fourteen years as an appropriate sentence for that crime.

[Petitions, May 29th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions signed by approximately 200 residents of Scarborough, Markham and North York.

The petitioners call Parliament's attention to the difficulties associated with the inclusion of the term sexual orientation in the human rights act and the possible effect that may have on other Canadians' rights and freedoms and they ask Parliament not to further proceed with any such legislative amendment.

[Petitions, May 29th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition comes from South Porcupine, Ontario. The petitioners bring to the attention of the House that consumption of alcoholic beverages may cause health problems or impair one's ability, and specifically that fetal alcohol syndrome and other alcohol related birth defects are 100 per cent preventable by avoiding alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to enact legislation to require health warning labels to be placed on the containers of all alcoholic beverages to caution expectant mothers and others of the risks associated with alcohol consumption.

[Committees Of The House, May 29th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among parties and groups in the House and I believe you will find unanimous consent for the adoption of the following motion. I move that the first report of the

Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations, presented Wednesday, April 24, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)

[Indian Election, May 29th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I call upon all Canadians to recognize and congratulate the 900 million people of India for completing what is the largest democratic voting exercise in the history of our world.

As a Canadian MP I want to restate the support of Canadians for the growth and evolution of the democratic electoral process in all countries. We believe that this is the best way to develop our political futures.

During the Indian election campaign there were some terrorist incidents but the people have prevailed. I condemn those who would offer us bombs and bullets instead of voting ballots and those responsible for the murders and maiming that occurred in India.

Of particular interest is the upcoming final balloting day in Kashmir where there remain many difficult issues to be resolved by the people of Kashmir. I encourage Kashmiris to reject violence and adopt the electoral process as the means of achieving their collective goals. Their future cannot be left exclusively to the forces that use violence.

[Supply, May 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the member has used the pronoun nous or we many times: We in Quebec want this, we in Quebec want that. He and I both agree there is a lot of democracy going on here now and then.

When he uses the term "we" is he not also trying to speak for the majority of Quebecers who voted no in the last referendum? How is he able-

[The Late Len Cardozo, May 14th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Len Cardozo, a fellow Torontonian who unexpectedly passed away last week following injuries sustained in a car accident.

Since his immigration to Canada from Pakistan in 1974, Len was active in many community groups and organizations in our city. Important, was a leader in the Goan community in Toronto during the past two decades, working to advance the integration of the 15,000 Christian immigrant community from India and Pakistan.

Len was a good neighbour, being active locally as a president of the Pelmo Park Community Association, a founding member of the St. Francis Xavier Credit Union, working on community relations with Humber Memorial Hospital, and president of the Canorient Christian Association helping new immigrants and seniors in Toronto.

Len's passion was politics both federally and provincially, but his pride was working to encourage many Torontonians to attend the unity rally in Montreal last October, a high point of his political involvement.

Len and his commitment to his community will be missed. He is survived by his wife Melba, four children and four grandchildren.