Peter MacKay

[Foreign Affairs, March 19th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, let me acknowledge that there are clearly still many challenges within the Haitian justice system. We have taken this matter directly to the highest levels of the Haitian government, including the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice.

We continue to provide consular assistance and access through our officials in Haiti on the ground. We will continue of course to do all we can to move this case forward and to provide assistance to Mr. Charbonneau and his family. This is clearly a matter of great concern to many and I appreciate the hon. member raising this issue here.

[Afghanistan, March 19th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Minister of National Defence answered the question and gave parliamentarians enough information to understand the situation.

Like the Minister of National Defence, we responded at the time with the information that was given to us. This has since been clarified. A more fulsome answer has been provided. There are ongoing investigations which will shed further light on this issue.

[Sudan, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his ongoing interest in the issues that affect Sudan and Darfur. I am pleased to tell him that Canada continues to support the African Union mission in Sudan and its efforts to promote the ceasefire and protect civilians. In fact, to this end, Canada has committed $48 million to continue our critical support to the end of the AMIS current mandate of June 30, 2007.

We are among the largest donors, as he knows. In fact, my colleague from international development announced $13 million just last week. We are a principal supporter of the African Union's mission in Sudan and our continued support includes 25 leased helicopters, two fixed wing aircraft, and money to the African Union to purchase fuel to fly this critical air support.

Canada continues to strongly support this mission. Can we do more? Yes, we will.

[Passports, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, the passport cost has remained the same. In effect, it is done on a cost recovery basis.

We are looking at all options to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of how passports are currently handled. We are not going to sacrifice the security of these documents. They are highly sought after by international terrorists and others who use them for nefarious purposes. We will not sacrifice security for expediency.

Having said that, we will continue to examine all options, including looking at new office locations, new technology and new means to receive this information. I applaud the efforts of Passport Canada in its work.

[Passports, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the member has already outlined part of what we are doing. We are hiring more clerical staff and more officials to ensure the security and integrity of those important passport documents. We have individuals, as he knows and has recognized, in the public service who are working extremely hard. Last weekend we had a major exercise to try to deal with some of the backlog. The same will happen this weekend.

We will continue to try to bring down the wait times. We are putting more Service Canada offices out there to collect and receive the passport documents. We are working very hard to deal with the effects of the western hemisphere travel initiative.

[National Defence, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, it is very interesting to see the member standing up for his region.

When it comes to the subject of ITAR, we have acted with the greatest dispatch. We have taken this issue to the highest levels of the American government. We continue to have negotiations, including a working group that was set up here in Ottawa.

However, when the member speaks of protecting his own region, I would remind him of his own words when he said, “I'm an Atlantic Canadian MP who had the guts to say ACOA isn't working for Atlantic Canada”.

Getting rid of it and replacing it with dramatic tax reform for Atlantic Canada, scrapping ACOA, getting rid of regional development, is what that member is about, no credibility in that party or when he was in this one.

[Afghanistan, February 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, while Pakistan is indeed an important ally in the fight against terror, Pakistan and Afghanistan need to do more to combat the instability and poverty exploited by the Taliban insurgency.

Canada has offered solutions to help better police the border, a point that I made during my recent visit in January to both countries. A Canadian multi-departmental border security assessment team has just recently returned from surveying that border and meeting with officials in those countries. I look forward to reviewing that work.

These recommendations will be used to jointly develop new effective border management projects. These efforts are important for the safety of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Canadians and the success of the overall mission.

[Report on Afghanistan, February 26th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Section 32(2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, I have the honour to lay upon the table, in both official languages, the Report to Parliament on Afghanistan entitled “Canada's Mission in Afghanistan: Measuring Progress”.

[Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, February 20th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know quite what to say to that. As I mentioned, we are of course working toward the ratification of the UN convention on the rights of the disabled. We have been very involved in the process from the very beginning.

We are very active at the United Nations in all of the discussions. If the hon. member would just calm herself somewhat and be a little more helpful she would realize that this is something that will happen. We have not reached the date yet.

[Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, February 20th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as is so often the case, that is factually incorrect.

This government is continuing to consult with provinces and territories on this important matter. We have been participating in these discussions on the important UN convention to protect and promote the rights of the disabled from the very beginning.

The March 30 date, which looms large, is something we are working toward. We will continue to do something that party does not do, and that is exhibit flexible, inclusive federalism, which this Prime Minister has forwarded from the very beginning.