House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 64% of the vote.
Maher Arar December 7th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the record is clear. While that member and her colleagues were in power, Mr. Arar was in a prison in Syria. The party opposite did not lift a finger and did not raise a voice to do anything about it.
Today, when we have Mr. Celil, a Canadian citizen, in China in the same situation, they have exactly the same position. They never learn.
We will stand up for Canadian citizens.
Maher Arar December 7th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, once again, Parliament and all parties in Parliament supported the motion of apology. The government is working with Mr. Arar's attorneys who have sued the government. We are working on a full compensation and apology and we hope to make progress on that in short order.
Once again, on the comment in the previous question in terms of the process, I think we have to be very careful not to politicize this process, particularly when I open the paper today and read that the party opposite is saying that it should get involved and stop the RCMP from investigating wrongdoing by politicians. That is not the kind of input we want in the hiring of the RCMP commissioner.
Government Appointments December 7th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, it is an interesting suggestion considering that the NDP actually was opposed to that process for the Supreme Court justice when I did it.
What I can say is this. The government obviously does not wish to politically hire and fire RCMP commissioners at will. We will establish a process that is objective and professional and of course we are interested in the input of any member of this House.
RCMP Commissioner December 7th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, once again, Mr. Justice O'Connor held a public inquiry, and the government accepted his report.
The parliamentary committee is free to carry on with its work concerning these events if it so desires.
Unfortunately, the real problem for the Bloc is that Canada now has a federalist government that is no longer under police investigation. That is the real problem for the Bloc. It is a good thing for Canadian unity and for the nation of Quebec, but it poses a problem for the sovereignist camp.
RCMP Commissioner December 7th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, once again, the Commissioner of the RCMP has tendered his resignation, and the government has accepted it. We thank the commissioner for his services to the country and to the RCMP.
With respect to the question by the leader of the Bloc Québécois, the current government obviously was not in power when these events took place. This government is interested in accountability, and we intend to implement accountability.
RCMP Commissioner December 7th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, one can only imagine the howls of outrage from the opposition if the Prime Minister had politically intervened and fired the Commissioner of the RCMP before he even testified at a parliamentary committee. Could you imagine, Mr. Speaker?
Instead of these ridiculous rumours, what we do know for a fact is that the member for Malpeque, a former solicitor general, wanted to fire the Commissioner of the RCMP because he allowed the RCMP to criminally investigate the Liberals' actions in the sponsorship affair. This is the kind of dangerous political interference for which that party stands.
RCMP Commissioner December 7th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the statements made by the Leader of the Opposition are completely false. This government did not meddle in the affairs of the RCMP like the previous Liberal government tried to do. Our government did not do that. We did not interfere in the RCMP commissioner's testimony. The commissioner said so himself.
RCMP Commissioner December 7th, 2006
Of course not, Mr. Speaker. That is not what the commissioner said.
In any case, I think the House is well aware of the fact that the Commissioner of the RCMP tendered his resignation after some consideration. It was the honourable thing to do. We accept that resignation and thank him for his service to the RCMP and to the country. I would note the commissioner said that he had no political interference in this matter.
Marriage December 6th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, today we will debate this issue and tomorrow there will be a vote.
After the Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention, the leader of that party declared that it was a question of fundamental rights. Now, he has decided that it is really a case of individual conscience.
We are of that opinion as well and I congratulate the Leader of the official opposition for having accepted our position on this issue.
Canadian Wheat Board December 6th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I got involved in this issue some years ago when the previous government, of which the hon. member was a member, jailed western Canadian farmers for selling their own wheat. It imposed a regime only on western Canada and would not impose it on anyone else. That was wrong. That is why we are moving to a marketing choice and that is why, unlike the other party, the Conservatives are prepared to consult and listen to western Canadian farmers.