Steven Blaney

[Public Safety, March 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, like the member for Medicine Hat, I am appalled to see these types of comments from someone who educates young people.

Front-line police officers selflessly put themselves in harm's way to protect fellow Canadians and deserve our unending gratitude. Attacking a tribute to a heroic policeman such as 35-year-old Sergeant Ryan Russell, who was hit hard by a snowplow and killed while trying to protect people from a dangerous individual, is shockingly disrespectful and despicable.

I can assure the House that the government will continue to support its law enforcement agencies and will pay its respects to those who make Canada one of the safest places in the world.

[Public Safety, March 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we always welcome initiatives. That is why we have put in place a national crime prevention strategy. This offers five-year support to local initiatives. This program has the support of our government.

The member is referring to a grant that was provided by Correctional Services Canada. Correctional Services Canada has to do its best job for those inmates who are behind bars.

[Public Safety, March 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his question.

As I mentioned yesterday, we are going to bring forward an amnesty to ensure that individuals in possession of these firearms can keep them legally. As I clearly indicated, we will continue to implement measures that put the safety of Canadians first without penalizing them. We are currently looking at all the options.

[Public Safety, March 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, let me first pay tribute to the member for Yorkton—Melville for standing up for the long Canadian opinion of this country.

I will bring forward an amnesty to ensure that individuals in possession of these firearms can continue to possess their property without threat of criminal charges.

Our Conservative government will continue to ensure that Canada is one of the safest countries in the world without penalizing honest citizens.

[Justice, February 13th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Burlington, who has presented a private member's bill on that very same issue, for standing up for victims.

As indicated on page 226 of budget 2014, our government will introduce a DNA-based missing persons index. This database is being welcomed by organizations like the Missing Children's Network.

Let me thank the Minister of Finance and all the colleagues who have supported the coming of this DNA database. This will help bring closure to families. I want to praise Judy Peterson, who has been advocating for this for 20 years.

[Citizenship and Immigration, February 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, every day, officials from the Canada Border Services Agency make major decisions to ensure the safety of our borders. They do so with great respect for people's dignity.

When individuals enter Canada illegally, they have a number of recourse options. In this case, although I cannot comment any further, the court has ruled, as we know.

[Public Safety, February 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, our position is crystal clear, and I thank the member for Mississauga—Streetsville for his concern for vulnerable people and caring for safer communities.

Unlike the Liberals and the NDP, we do not believe that handing out heroin and needles to people who are suffering from addiction is a solution. We believe in helping them, in making them stop using dangerous drugs and keeping drugs off our streets.

[Public Safety, February 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. All amounts allocated to first nations' policing will be used to provide professional services.

We treat first nations like equals, just like all Canadians. That is why our government has ensured that women's rights in aboriginal communities are recognized just like the rights of all other women. Unfortunately, we did not have the NDP's support to do so.

[Public Safety, February 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member that this government is committed to providing our first nations with very professional, first-quality service to communities. That is why we have renewed our agreement for five years. All the money that was oriented to other programs that were not effective in meeting their targets will go into first nations first-quality service policing.

[Public Safety, February 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, what would be great is if, when we are implementing our measures and our agenda to make this country safer for Canadians, we could get the support of Canadians. We would be more than happy.

Also, I would be happy to discuss any ways we could increase the safety of this great country.