Dick Harris

[International Transfer of Offenders Act, May 7th, 2003]

Madam Speaker, the bill is purely a reflection of the Liberal government's most tolerant approach to people who commit crimes. There are many countries around the world whose justice system demands far harsher penalties than we have in Canada. The influence of past Liberal governments has resulted in a very lenient approach to people who commit crimes in this country.

This is a bewildering bill because it does not put any responsibility on Canadian citizens to respect the laws of other countries. If they are visiting other countries and they have no respect for the law, in the sense that they choose to commit a crime there, then the bill would get them off the hook with the penalties that might prevail in that country by allowing them to be returned to Canada and be subject to the Canadian judicial system and the way we treat people who break the laws.

This is just another example of the Liberals' most tolerant approach to people who commit crimes. I would say that this bill could actually serve as an encouragement to criminals from Canada who are in other countries to commit crimes. They would know that if an armed robbery in a particular country gets them life in prison, they could go ahead and commit that crime knowing that under this legislation they would likely be transferred back to Canada, be subject to the laws of Canada and might only serve about five years in prison.

I could never support the bill. I believe that Canadians who are in other countries have an obligation to respect the laws of that country and, if they choose to trespass those laws, then they should be subject to the consequences of that trespass in the country they are in.

The bill is just another example of the Liberals' most tolerant approach to criminals. Some of the sentencing and the punishments were mentioned today in question period, which the Solicitor General and the justice minister just sort of laughed off. A simple slap on the wrist under this government's influence tells criminals in this country to go ahead and break the law. They will still be treated with a whole bunch of respect. They will be showered with rights and be provided with legal aid. If they do get convicted, they are put in some sort of a club fed, but will be released pretty soon because we believe in a very lenient parole system. They are told not to worry, to be happy and to go ahead and commit crimes in this country and abroad because they will be returned home and be treated like good old Canadian prisoners.

[Petitions, May 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the other two petitions deal with the issue of stem cell research. The petitioners are very fearful that the government will some day pass legislation that will allow embryonic stem cell research.

The petitioners point out the fact that adult stem cells show significant research progress and accomplishment and that there is no need to go to embryonic stem cells. Therefore they call on Parliament to focus its legislative support on adult stem cell research to find the cures and therapies necessary to treat many diseases.

Mr. Speaker, I understand members cannot support a petition publicly but if I could, you know I would.

[Petitions, May 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present four petitions. The first two petitions deal with the traditional meaning of marriage and contain several hundred signatures of people throughout Prince George--Bulkley Valley.

The petitioners pray that Parliament legislate an opposite sex requirement for the institution of marriage and that marriage be restricted to being between one man and one woman.

[Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, May 6th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving are here in Ottawa today to urge the Minister of Justice to take further action against the serious crime of impaired driving.

They are calling on the minister and all members of Parliament to support the following changes to the Criminal Code of Canada: lower the BAC from 0.08 to 0.05; enhance police enforcement powers; clarify and redefine the existing offences contained in the Criminal Code of Canada; provide tiered sentencing; eliminate conditional sentencing; and expand ignition interlock provisions.

These proposals are both reasonable and necessary in order to send out a strong message to those in our society who choose to drink and drive that their actions are criminal and will simply not be tolerated.

[Masters Champion, April 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, there is a new name added to the great names of golf and he is Mike Weir from Bright's Grove, Ontario, Canada.

Weir joins Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and all the other great players of golf who have earned the title Masters Champion. He is the first Canadian and the first left-handed golfer to ever win golf's most revered tournament.

Mike won the Bob Hope Classic and the Nissan Open and made all Canadians proud earlier this year. When he won the Masters he raised that pride to a new level and made Canadian history.

Through grit and determination, Weir won the Masters in a playoff after finishing seven under and safely secured his status as a legend of Canadian golf.

The Canadian Alliance pays tribute to Mike Weir and we wish him continued success. Canada has a new hero and a fine champion. Way to go Mike.

[Financial Institutions, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the minister, obviously, does not understand that the banks have already been waiting about five years for some definitive response from the Minister of Finance.

It is now crucial that a response is forthcoming immediately. The minister knows that a huge amount of investment capital is at risk of leaving the country and a huge amount of investment capital is being held up by the tier two banks.

Will the Minister of Finance recognize the urgency? Will he recognize it truly and respond to the bank merger report before the--

[Financial Institutions, April 11th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's banking community is anxiously waiting for a response from the Minister of Finance to the bank merger report.

The banks do not have the luxury of time, as the minister does, to simply wait around while the minister fights his leadership race or his party plans for the next leadership convention.

Will the Minister of Finance realize the urgency of this situation and fast track his response to the finance committee's bank merger report? Will he do that?

[Caring Canadian Award, April 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to congratulate my constituent, Berenice Haggarty of Burns Lake, B.C., who was named a recipient of the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award on March 18, 2003. She is one of only 73 Canadians to be recognized in this way.

The award is made to individuals and groups whose unpaid voluntary works provide extraordinary help or care to people in their communities.

Mrs. Haggarty has committed her time and caring to those in need for many years. It is truly fitting that she be honoured in this fashion.

Congratulations to Berenice Haggarty. I join with all of her neighbours, friends and family in thanking her for her selfless contribution to the community of Burns Lake, B.C.

[Question No. 155, March 31st, 2003]

For each year from 1993 to 2001 what was the total amount billed to the government and its agencies by Pollara research associates?

(Return tabled.)

[Question No. 143, March 28th, 2003]

For each year from 1993 to 2001 what was the total amount billed to the government and its agencies by Leger and Leger Research Associates?

Return tabled.