Jim Abbott

[Apec Inquiry, October 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the Prime Minister cannot have it both ways. He has repeatedly stated that he was not involved in the APEC affair, that he was not involved with the RCMP, yet the transcripts of Superintendent Wayne May state the contrary. Is it the government's position that Wayne May is a liar?

[Apec Inquiry, October 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it turns out that the Prime Minister is not the only one being hung out to dry now that we know some of the facts. His former operations director, Jean Carle, gave evidence that contradicts the facts that are now in the public domain. It is not just the fact that the Prime Minister squashed Canadians' rights, it is the cover up.

When Jean Carle gave evidence repeating the Prime Minister's claim of innocence, was Jean Carle not telling the truth or was he just covering up for the Prime Minister?

[Royal Canadian Mounted Police, October 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this is about that $10 million the minister was boasting about sending to British Columbia. Seven million dollars of it went toward well deserved raises for the RCMP officers. Another portion went to pay down the deficit, leaving only $1.5 million of the $10 million. The $10 million does not exist.

We have a problem. The commercial fraud and rip-off are not being investigated because of lack of resources for the RCMP. When will the minister come forward with proper resources for the RCMP to protect Canadian consumers?

[Royal Canadian Mounted Police, October 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, is the solicitor general listening? The chronic underfunding of the RCMP is aiding and abetting rip-off artists. The RCMP have written to a Kamloops couple saying that due to the shortage of resources it is unable to continue the investigation into a $450,000 swindle. This is Canada, these are Canadians and they are being ripped off.

When will the minister come forward with funds to support the RCMP?

[Privilege, October 14th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the solicitor general critic for the official opposition, I draw to your attention a meeting of our standing committee on May 25 with Director Alcock of CSIS.

Mr. Speaker, if you have an opportunity to review the committee report of that session, you will find that the director exhibited the kind of culture and characteristics that have been spoken about by my colleague. As my colleague has pointed out, it is very important that parliamentarians are free from any sense of intimidation, in particular in the case of the meeting on May 25. It was so troubling to all members of parliament, government members and all opposition members, that we subsequently held a second meeting to find out what our remedies would be in trying to get instruction to a very reluctant witness. In this particular case it was Director Alcock who just basically refused to respect the questions from the people in the Chamber.

I draw that to your attention, Mr. Speaker, because I think it adds something to the picture that we are looking at here.

[First Nations Land Management Act, June 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, for my information, I wonder if you could advise me where we are in Private Members' Business. How many minutes are left in the debate, please?

[Rcmp, June 9th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are tremendously proud of the RCMP's work both in Canada and abroad.

Yesterday the Minister of Foreign Affairs talked about sending RCMP to help in gathering forensic evidence and establishing infrastructure in Kosovo, but what about the RCMP infrastructure in Canada?

This government has slashed hundreds of millions of dollars from the RCMP budget. The force currently has a shortfall of up to 20% of staff in B.C. detachments. The RCMP is stretched as thin as Canada's military, and that speaks volumes.

The foreign affairs minister made commitments for the defence minister and now he is making commitments for the solicitor general. Why will the solicitor general not stand up for the RCMP?

While RCMP officers place their lives on the line, very frequently for free with no overtime, the solicitor general slithers, dithers and talks about studies. Officers are committed to combating criminal forces in Canada. What they need is a commitment from this government to a strong and vital RCMP.

[Points Of Order, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, during question period the solicitor general referred to a review of drugs in prison in 1995 and again in his supplementary he said last year. I assume that is 1998.

According to the rules of this House, through you, Mr. Speaker, I ask the solicitor general to table those reviews.

[Correctional Service Canada, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, is that not really something? They have known about it for a long time and yet the minister has no plan. He has just started his study. He said that we have to do a study in order to be able to find out what we will do. Dither and dither.

Why does he have no plan? Why will he not tell us about the scope of the study that is supposedly going on?

[Correctional Service Canada, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, indeed there is a drug problem in the prisons. Let us take a look at what happened last Saturday in the Kingston Penitentiary.

After prisoners were observed consuming and possibly concealing drugs during an evening yard exercise, they were penned up and taken back to their cells, but the final group of them would not go. What they did was break everything in sight and cause $10,000 worth of damage.

This is the last event that has taken place. There have been many events that have taken place over a number of years. Why has the minister just suddenly discovered that there is a drug problem?