Ralph Goodale

[Disaster Assistance, May 4th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, as we have heard in the House earlier today, all Canadians are standing firm with the residents of Fort McMurray at this very difficult time.

Alberta has requested federal assistance, including air assets to support evacuations, firefighting, and the delivery of essential aid. The Government of Canada is indeed providing this help, and more. As first responders, RCMP members are fully involved in search and evacuation and safety efforts, and there is much more to the federal effort than only this.

In both the immediate and the long term, the people of Fort McMurray can be assured of the federal government's full and unequivocal support.

[Questions on the Order Paper, May 2nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a) and (b), the government has not specifically raised this scenario with, nor requested this information from, the Government of the United States. In the “Entry/Exit Overstay Report Fiscal Year 2015”, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security notes that it collects exit data for travellers departing the U.S. through air and sea ports.

Exit information will be used by both Canada and the U.S. to support the identification of potential overstays. Additional measures will be taken to further validate the accuracy of the information and prevent the wrongful identification of travellers. In this regard, Canada and the U.S. will work together to identify and assess potential scenarios which may result from the sharing of information, including implications for Canadians temporarily visiting the U.S. who may depart the U.S. via the southern land border into Mexico.

In response to (c), all questions regarding the paperwork required by the U.S. should be directed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

In response to (d), Canada has no plans for such an initiative at this time. The CBSA cannot address current or potential arrangements between the U.S. and Mexico.

[Canada Border Services Agency, May 2nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, our government celebrates Canadian diversity as a tremendous source of strength, and the Jewish community in Canada is an integral part of that. We will always stand firm against intolerance and hate, as we continue to build an open, inclusive society.

With respect to the admissibility of a particular individual, border security officers make those determinations on the basis of the facts at ports of entry in accordance to Canadian law.

I would point out that past criminality is a factor that is certainly taken into account.

[Marijuana, April 21st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the public safety department is working very closely with the justice department and the health department to produce a regime for Canada with respect to marijuana that will, in fact, do a far better job in keeping our kids safe, keeping this product out of the hands of children and young people, and stopping the flow of illegal money to illegal gangs and organized crime.

The regime in place today has failed miserably. Perpetuating the status quo is absolutely the wrong thing to do.

[Public Safety, April 20th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, our government has indicated a new regard for the work of parliamentarians on parliamentary committees. The Prime Minister has made it clear that he wants to see the work of parliamentarians be adequately supported and invigorated.

If the committee which is hearing all of the evidence with respect to this matter has suggestions to make about the shape of the legislation, the President of the Treasury Board and I would be more than happy to entertain that advice.

[Public Safety, April 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, some years ago I was very honoured to author in this House a private member's motion that was in fact passed and adopted by the House of Commons calling for the creation, among other things, of a public safety officer compensation fund.

It was in the Liberal platform; it is in my mandate letter; it will be delivered.

[Public Safety, April 12th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, obviously I would not comment on any specific operational matter, but I can also confirm what the hon. gentleman implied in his question, that in circumstances where international co-operation is required, most certainly CSIS, the RCMP, the CBSA, and every agency under the authority of the Government of Canada, co-operate fully with our international partners.

[Public Safety, March 24th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, one of the most important initiatives is to deal with counter-radicalization, something that the previous government absolutely failed to do. We made a commitment in the campaign, and we began the funding for it in this budget, to establish a Canadian office for community outreach and counter-radicalization and to work with all of our partners across this country and around the world to make sure we can head off these tragedies before they happen.

[Public Safety, March 24th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I begin by noting that, since 2010, Conservative investment in the RCMP fell by $245 million. We are in the process of repairing the damage that was done by the previous administration. Program integrity support for the RCMP will ensure funding sufficiency while overall support for the force is reassessed by Treasury Board. We are investing $128 million over two years to improve the physical infrastructure for law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and we are investing $60 million in forensic labs.

[Ethics, March 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the deputy minister has engaged with the Ethics Commissioner on this file, and she will provide any advice that is necessary.

With respect to tax policy and the taxation rules that are applicable to particular transactions, that is within the purview of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of National Revenue.