House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 71% of the vote.
Firearms Registry September 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, what the members of the Quebec caucus of the Conservative Party, indeed all Conservative members, want to see is effective gun control that targets criminals and does not target law-abiding citizens, law-abiding hunters, and sports people.
We are concerned about crime on the streets, not simply registering long guns. That does not address the issue of crime at all.
I wish that for once the Bloc would actually support measures that stifle crime and not lawful gun-owners.
Firearms Registry September 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear for the member.
While we support the licensing aspect and the registration of prohibited and restricted weapons, we do not support the wasteful long gun registry.
There is a deliberate campaign of misinformation by Bloc members in respect of what we support. The member for Malpeque, as well, has participated in a deliberate campaign of misinformation after he promised his constituents that he would vote in favour of scrapping the long gun registry. Now he has flipped.
Border Crossings September 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, we examine these issues very carefully and we ensure that the money being spent on border crossings is appropriately done. I know CBSA has made certain recommendations and I believe those recommendations are consistent with both the interests of Canadians who access those border crossings as well as continuing to stimulate trade across the border with the Americans.
Firearms Registry September 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for her question and for her hard work on this file.
The long gun registry is wasteful, it is ineffective, and it criminalizes hard-working farmers and hunters, farmers and hunters who live in the riding of Malpeque. There are no studies that justify the moneys spent on the long gun registry.
Our Conservative government knows that criminals do not register long guns.
The choice is clear for all MPs, including the member for Malpeque. They can vote to keep the wasteful gun registry or vote to scrap it.
Firearms Registry September 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. While we support the licensing of people and the registration of prohibited and restricted weapons, we do not support the wasteful long gun registry. It is time to end the criminalization of law-abiding Canadian citizens. When will the Bloc, the Liberals, and the NDP stop playing games with this issue? Why do they not actually support initiatives that get dangerous repeat criminals off the street and protect law-abiding Canadians?
Firearms Registry September 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the long gun registry is wasteful. It is inefficient, and it criminalizes hunters, sportsmen and working farmers. There are no studies that justify the money spent on the long gun registry. Our Conservative government as well as Canadians know that criminals do not register their long guns.
The choice is clear for all MPs. Hon. members can vote to keep the wasteful and inefficient system or vote to scrap it.
Questions on the Order Paper September 20th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), on May 12, 2010, CBSA officials met with representatives of the Association des plaisanciers du Québec, CONAN (amateur builders and navigators), Gosselin Marina, and a member of the public. They discussed the options examined to address the issues at the Quai Richelieu, related primarily to docking certain boats in high winds. In the short term, the CBSA has implemented appropriate measures to address the public and employee safety issues: boaters will no longer have to dock in high wind conditions. If necessary, CBSA officers will examine boats and their passengers at nearby marinas.
In response to (b)(i)(ii)(iii), CBSA and Public Works and Government Service Canada are undertaking a wind and water current study to formulate an acceptable, complete and permanent solution to address the risk related to boat damage, the safety of boaters and employees that may be caused by the Quai Richelieu. The final report will formulate recommendations for the possible installation of a pontoon to facilitate docking, with or without a breakwater, and other measures that may be necessary.
In response to (c), the plan is to implement a final, complete and permanent solution prior to the 2011 boating season.
Questions on the Order Paper September 20th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, in response to (a) and (b), in May 2008, the Minister of Public Safety announced the establishment of the Task Force on Illicit Tobacco Products. The task force is led by PS and includes departments and agencies that are involved in tackling the issue of contraband tobacco, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, CBSA, the Canada Revenue Agency, Finance Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Health Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
The task force is mandated to identify the facilitating circumstances for each source of illicit tobacco, scope out the issue and what is currently being done to address the problem, identify gaps in our collective efforts, and explore approaches to address the illicit trade in tobacco products.
In July 2009, after extensive consultation with federal partners and industry stakeholders, the task force completed its analysis in which it identifies several options to reduce both the supply of, and demand for, illicit tobacco products in Canada. A copy of the task force report is available on the PS website; however, there are several options that have not been released as they are still under consideration.
One of the options considered by the task force included the increased control of raw materials, including cigarette papers and acetate filter tow, which are used in the production of contraband tobacco products. Upon further examination of the potential control of raw materials, the task force came to the conclusion that, with the exception of tobacco itself, there is no raw material that is exclusively used in the manufacture of contraband tobacco products. For example, in addition to its application in contraband tobacco products, acetate filter tow is also used in the manufacture of gauze and feminine hygiene products. As such, raw materials would be very difficult to regulate without causing a significant negative impact on the operations of legitimate businesses, particularly those not involved in the manufacture of tobacco products.
In response to (c), in July 2008, the Government of Canada joined with all provinces in a landmark settlement concerning tobacco smuggling which saw two major Canadian tobacco companies agree to pay $1.15 billion in fines. As a result of this settlement, the Minister of National Revenue announced a $20 million investment to combat contraband tobacco and to reduce the amount of tobacco consumed.
As part of the $20 million investment, the Government of Canada announced on May 28, 2010, several key initiatives that were developed by the task force to combat contraband tobacco:
$7.41 million for the establishment of an RCMP-led Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit--Contraband Tobacco Team, CFSEU-CTT, operating in Cornwall. The CFSEU-CTT will target criminal networks engaged in the manufacture and distribution of contraband tobacco products, complementing the current enforcement efforts in that region;
$3.48 million for the CBSA to establish a detector dog service focused on detecting and seizing contraband tobacco at marine ports of entry in Montreal and Vancouver, which are the regions with the highest rate of contraband tobacco activity; and
$4.97 million for the Canada Revenue Agency to implement a multimedia awareness campaign, comprised of television, print and radio ads, that will emphasize the link between buying contraband tobacco products and supporting the activities of organized crime groups. The campaign will be deployed throughout Canada with a focus on Ontario and Quebec, provinces with high rates of contraband tobacco consumption.
It is clear that any enforcement, awareness and/or control mechanisms for contraband tobacco requires the continued cooperation and partnership between federal, provincial and territorial governments, first nations governments, the law enforcement community and industry stakeholders.
Public Safety September 20th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, this has been the Liberal philosophy. The Liberals do not want dangerous criminals in prison but the Liberals want to register guns. They came up with the long gun registry, targeting law-abiding citizens and if they do not register their guns, send them to prison.
What a bizarre criminal justice philosophy: keep dangerous criminals on the street and send hard-working Canadians to prison. That is the Liberal philosophy
Public Safety September 20th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, our government has been very clear that our first priority is the safety and security of Canadians. We are prepared to put dangerous offenders in prisons.
We believe that the cost with respect to these prisons is justified in terms of the safety on the streets that it will create.
We would ask the member to support these initiatives to ensure that law-abiding Canadians can walk the streets and that prisoners remain in prison until it is time for them to come out.