Irwin Cotler

[Justice, March 8th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, regrettably, it is the hon. member opposite who is playing fast and loose with the facts. If we look at the report from which she is speaking, it says that the big picture in terms of cross-border cooperation is certainly encouraging and that Canadian and U.S. law enforcement officials have dismantled major criminal industry operations.

What we intend to do with our proposed legislation, if they pass it, is to combat those grow ops.

[Justice, February 25th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member is aware, I cannot comment on the specifics of an offender's case.

However, the International Transfer of Offenders Act enables Canadian offenders, who are convicted abroad, to serve their sentence in their country of citizenship whenever a treaty has been signed to that effect. That has been the case in this instance.

[Correctional Service Canada, February 25th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the safety of the corrections officers as well as the safety of this country continues to be a priority and will remain that way.

[Justice, February 24th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot comment on the particulars of that case. The whole issue with respect to policy regarding databanks is right now before the justice and human rights committee where the hon. member sits. The committee members can address that issue as a matter of principle and policy.

[Child Pornography, February 23rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the whole purpose of our legislation is to protect against the evil of child pornography. The nature of mandatory minimums, as experience and research studies have shown, will secure the exact opposite of what the member on the other side wants and what we wish.

[Justice, February 22nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I reject the premise that our relations with the U.S. are eroding. We have cross-border cooperation. We have met with our counterparts in that regard. We discussed the whole issue of grow ops at the recent federal-provincial-territorial meeting of ministers of justice. We have a full comprehensive approach to the combating of grow ops in this country.

[Justice, February 22nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, marijuana remains illegal under the proposed legislation. It is an alternate penalties framework.

I agree with the member opposite with regard to the concern with respect to grow ops. That is why we have enhanced offences and penalties to combat grow ops in the proposed legislation.

[International Trade, February 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, CIDA is involved in China with respect to measures to improve the legislative system, to improve matters relating to judicial reform, in other words, to engage in the kinds of projects and the kinds of initiatives which will help improve the administration of justice and democratization in China.

[Justice, February 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I respect the hon. member's concern with cases which involve tragic victimization. We are reviewing the legislation now. If there is a category that should be enhanced, it can be enhanced through the legislative process.

[Justice, February 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the whole issue with respect to legislation regarding DNA and the expansion of databanks and the like is before the justice and human rights committee. The hon. member is a member of that committee. That is an appropriate forum where this matter can be dealt with as a matter of principle and policy.