Peter MacKay

[Justice, March 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, of course, it is absolutely essential that we respond to the Supreme Court's ruling on prostitution.

The member had many good ideas for addressing the issue, for example with programs. We do not need a bill to provide a comprehensive response to the Supreme Court ruling. Programs are also needed to help the most vulnerable people who are affected by this issue.

[Justice, March 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we have done a great deal of consultation, not only with the Barreau du Québec and eminent people from that province, but also with members from all parties of the House of Commons.

We intend to proceed with the appointment of a new member of the Supreme Court. This is a necessary element of the Constitution and the basic functions. There are many qualified candidates.

[Aboriginal Affairs, March 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, our government continues to press for police measures that give police more tools to investigate and solve crimes, and continues to put forward legislation that holds those responsible for violence against women and girls, including aboriginal women and girls, accountable. This is what we continue to do.

We continue to fund programs across the country, as the member knows, that work on reserve. We passed legislation that empowered aboriginal women with matrimonial property.

Sadly, the consistent approach of the NDP has been to talk. Our government has taken action. We ask for the member's support of that action.

[Justice, March 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, there is a judicial advisory committee that provides the names, of which Mr. Justice Toews was put forward. As a member of the committee that vetted the names that came from Quebec, she would know that. She was a member of that committee and, in fact, I appreciated her participation.

Speaking of Mr. Nadon, someone said, “He’s a great judge. He’s a brilliant legal mind”. Who said that? The member for Gatineau.

[Justice, March 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my dear colleague for wanting to identify a pool of qualified candidates for this appointment. I consulted the attorney general of Quebec, Quebec's chief justice, the chief justice of the Quebec Superior Court, the chief justice of the Federal Court of Appeal, the chief justice of the Federal Court, and representatives of major legal associations, including the Barreau du Québec and the Canadian Bar Association.

The all-party selection committee provided us with a list of three names taken from a long list of candidates.

[Justice, March 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, what nonsense, coming from a member from Quebec. It was not this government that decided to table this decision in the middle of the Quebec election.

I remind the member again that in fact we received advice from two retired Supreme Court justices, as well as an eminent constitutional expert whom I think the member is familiar with, Mr. Peter Hogg.

So this is not a position that is somehow out of step with the reality that we continue to use a process that is far more inclusive than that of the hon. member's party when he was in power.

[Justice, March 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. friend would know, there was broad consultation with this process, which included consultation with Quebec certainly, with its chief justice and the attorney general of Quebec. There was an all-party committee of course that looked at the qualifications of Justice Nadon. We also sought information from retired Supreme Court justices and a constitutional expert with respect to the path that was followed.

We will examine the decision by the Supreme Court as we continue to move forward in the process to appoint a justice and see that the Supreme Court has a full complement of judges.

[Justice, March 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, before Judge Nadon was appointed, the minister of justice sought the opinion of former Supreme Court justices Binnie and Charron. Their opinion was analyzed and was supported by another former Supreme Court justice, as well as a respected constitutional law professor.

That is why we were genuinely surprised by the Supreme Court's decision. We think that all parties would agree that Judge Nadon is a distinguished and well-respected legal expert. We are currently reviewing the details of the decision.

[Missing and Murdered Women, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I committed to tabling documents in this House. I now have those documents in both official languages.

I am pleased to table the list of initiatives on missing and murdered aboriginal women that my department has taken since 2010.

These reports, as numerous as they are, now number 41, with another being tabled today. They include such recent reports as “Forsaken: the report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry” by the hon. Wally T. Oppal.

At the same time, I am tabling a list of some 40 studies dealing with the tragic situation, as well as 30 government bills that we have introduced dealing with public safety issues.

As far as programs are concerned in this list of 64, the detailed information setting out those programs and dollar amounts is also available on the website contained in this list.

While I am on my feet, I want to take this opportunity to apologize to the Speaker and members present for impertinence yesterday on my part here in the House of Commons. I have great respect, after 17 years, for the dignity of this chamber and I want to take this opportunity to apologize.

[Aboriginal Affairs, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Mississauga South for her leadership, and all members of the Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women, for the work they have done and the effort they have put forward on this important issue.

I have no doubt that this report will, in fact, better inform the action our government has already taken, and will continue to take, to address the violence, tragic disappearances, and brutal murder of indigenous women in Canada. The fact is, this government is taking action. We have a comprehensive justice agenda, which is focused on preventing these crimes while ensuring that offenders receive the tough sentences that they deserve.

The time for talk is over. The time for action is now. It is time for the opposition to start supporting important criminal justice initiatives.