Government Operations committee  Nothing for which we were allocated funds from vote 35 was not mentioned in chapter 3 of the budget. It said “government priorities” and made pretty clear that certain of those priorities were the responsibility of the Department of Industry or the ministry of industry to deliver. Has there been an imperative to act quickly? Absolutely there has.

Status of Women committee  We invited in first nations groups and individuals and actually came up with quite a thorough report. What was very clear from that report, from those consultations, was that first nations women and men were asking that the model not be based on provincial legislation, the provincial model that is currently part of the legislation that we see in front of the House of Commons.

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  I sat on the committee and I listened very carefully to the questions they asked. The questions from the Liberal Party were clear, but I have the impression— just a little feeling—that they felt an election coming on. I think the tough on crime ideology is somewhat attractive to them. They have a right-wing Liberal base that is a little risky and they are afraid of losing it.

Status of Women committee  Yes, we want aboriginal people to find their solutions and to find culturally appropriate solutions, but at the base of it, we need to establish some clear rules that it's not right that women and men living on reserves do not have the same property rights when it comes to a relationship breakdown. If we can move this motion forward, I think we will at least send a strong signal to Parliament that we want to see women have the same rights as the rest of Canadians.

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  It does not reflect an explanation as to why it is one year. Is the reason because the courts are not giving any sentences? The member has to be clear in his question. I explained very clearly that if the court has the discretion, the court is not required to impose a minimum punishment, et cetera. That is proposed section 8. It is not what the member said.

Status of Women committee  It's not clear if it will ever get to the board, particularly if it has to get there by way of individual complaints.

Afghanistan committee  It's even more complex because of the nature of Afghan society, which is family-based, tribal-based, and also you're adding another layer that probably, in many ways, has some similarities to what we have, to what we know as parliamentary democracy and all its infinite variations. It is clear in my mind, and I think it is the same for my colleagues, that we are not there trying to push values. We're there to try to help the Afghans build the society they want for themselves.

Economic and Fiscal Statement  The Conservatives are not being honest about the deficit and they are not being honest about the cause of the deficit. Last week, Kevin Page, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, was clear when he said: The weak fiscal performance to date is largely attributable to previous policy decisions as opposed to weakened economic conditions. It is pretty clear, and Mr. Page is very clear, that these bad policy decisions were the Conservative government’s misguided tax policy and their big spending policy.

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  We were under a great deal of pressure. I will refer to that a little later. When we were finished our work, it was clear that it was important that we not only have a national drug strategy but that we also have the tools and plans to make that drug strategy work. When a drug strategy works, it is not just a matter of someone having done something, whether it be possession or trafficking, being a given a penalty, going to jail and everything is fine; it involves people.

Status of Women committee  The broader concern you raise about the contamination more widely of the recasting of pay equity is a very reasonable and important one to raise. Although we still talk about pay equity as a right, and the government does, I think it's clear from the deterrents of this legislation that it's no longer being treated as a right. Rights are not enforceable, identified, and remedied in the way that equitable compensation purports to be by this statute.

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  But since we live a world governed by the Conservatives, who lean to the right, if not the far right, we have a problem on our hands, and that problem is Bill C-15, as my colleague has made clear. I have just one question for her. I know we are running out of time and I want her to have time to answer. I would like to know what impact this bill could have, not on the penitentiary—and I will come back to that in a moment, since that will have a different impact altogether—but on the provincial court and provincial detention centres in her riding in the Vancouver, British Columbia area.

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Mr. Speaker, I wish I could provide some clear information to answer the member's question, because this is one of the questions we did pose to the minister. If the bill passes and a regime of mandatory minimums is enacted, we want to know the estimate of how many people would be convicted and would end up in the provincial system, which would be convictions of two years less a day.

Government Operations committee  I would like to come back to the questions my colleague was asking, in order to see my way clear through all this. First of all, I am addressing each of the spokespersons who took the floor here today. I would like for you to tell me if, before allocating money from the stimulus plan, you had enough time to develop an action plan including timelines—I imagine you did—but also performance indicators.

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear on what this bill is about. This is a tailored, targeted approach to the trafficking of drugs, which is plaguing our communities. If people are selling drugs in areas frequented by children or selling drugs to children, they are going to get a mandatory minimum sentence.

Status of Women committee  First off, then, very clearly responsibility lies with the government. I would also say that there is a clear recognition...although it's one that's been under challenge for the last 30 years, and under challenge in a way that has shown to be fundamentally wrong, with what's happened in terms of unregulated markets.