Rob Merrifield

[Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, October 25th, 2005]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-431, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to introduce this private member's bill that would amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act so that we send a message about the substances that are on schedule 1. I assume those substances will be changed according to the government's announcement this year which would add methamphetamine to the schedule 1 group of substances, which would include heroin and cocaine.

The possession of those drugs come with a lifetime sentence as a maximum but they have no minimum. My bill would make it a minimum of two years for a first offence and five years for a second offence. This would send a message to our courts that we need a minimum sentence and that we need to take these kinds of incidents seriously. It also sends a message to our communities that we are prepared to stand before them and protect them from the criminals who are involved with these kinds of substances. It would also for trafficking, importation and exportation.

As well, the bill talks about when the methamphetamine labs are in the vicinity of underage children that they will be recognized in the court of law.

Those are the two ingredients in the bill. I encourage all members to support this private member's bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Softwood Lumber, October 25th, 2005]

Yes, Mr. Chair, it was very productive. The unfortunate part coming out of that was the mixed messages coming from the government within just a few short days. Any of the United States congressmen or senators who were watching exactly what was happening must be just as confused as they would have been if they had watched the Prime Minister with his mixed messages, not just a couple of days after that but in the last 24 hours.

That has to stop if we are ever going to give a clear message to our trading partners on what actually needs to happen. Let us stop the rhetoric. Let the Liberal Party get its act together. The Liberals have been charged by the electorate to do a job. I challenge them to do it.

[Railway Safety, October 6th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, this summer there were two train derailments in my riding along the Edmonton-Jasper corridor. On August 3 a CN train derailed in Wabamun created an ecological disaster. Some 700,000 litres of oil spilled into the lake killing wildlife, poisoning drinking water and actually spoiling the lake to local residents for the summer.

On both occasions I wrote the transport minister calling for an immediate review of railway safety in Canada. I still have not heard from the minister.

Last week there was another CN derailment in Alberta. Spills can be cleaned up, but it is the minister's duty is to determine why these incidents are occurring and to take steps to prevent them.

It appears that the transport minister is not taking this problem seriously at all. How big a disaster will it take to catch the minister's attention? The people in my riding are demanding and deserve some action.

[Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston, Brock Myrol and Peter Schiemann, October 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, “Maintain the right” is the motto of the RCMP and that is what four young men were trying to do when they were killed by a violent criminal near Mayerthorphe, Alberta on March 3. That was seven months ago today.

Family members continue to grieve the loss of Brock, Anthony, Leo and Peter, but they are also working to achieve something positive from this tragedy.

Last week they called for a number of changes to the criminal justice system. To promote this cause, they are asking Canadians to maintain the right and turn on their lights. Tonight Canadians can show their support and send a message to the House by turning on their porch lights between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. If they cannot turn on their lights, then they should honk their horns. The campaign was the idea of Keith Myrol, father of Constable Brock Myrol.

This grassroots referendum of light will continue on the third evening of each month until next March. How many months will it take until the lights come on at 24 Sussex?

[Justice, September 27th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, what happened this summer is no answer.

Yesterday the families warned that there are thousands of other James Roszkos all across this country, in every police division, putting police and ordinary Canadian citizens at risk.

The families have sound ideas on how to fix the system. One of the things they would like to see is a scrapping of Bill C-17, this government's soft approach to marijuana. We need some straight and honest answers in the House. Will the government scrap the bill?

[Justice, September 27th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the fallen RCMP officers were killed in my riding, where drugs like marijuana and methamphetamine continue to ruin young lives and destroy communities, yet the government appears cold to helping. We need truth and answers in this House and we need truth in sentencing for criminals.

Will this government commit to mandatory prison sentences for serious drug and violent crimes?

[Justice, September 26th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, raising the maximums on crystal meth does not solve the problem when the minimums are not there.

Last week the RCMP officers raided another Quonset hut in Mayerthorpe and turned up 800 marijuana plants.

Marijuana and crystal meth are ruining lives and harming our communities, while criminals scoff at the law and laugh at our weak sentences. RCMP families see the dangers in the soft approach to marijuana in Bill C-17. They want it scrapped and so do we.

Will the government admit it was wrong and scrap the marijuana bill?

[Justice, September 26th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it has now been seven months since the four RCMP officers were killed near Mayerthorpe. The families want changes to the justice system that has failed them miserably.

Today they are calling for a complete review of the justice system. We cannot blame the judges, but legislators must send a clear message to the courts: serious crime deserves serious time.

Will the government commit to minimum sentences for serious drug and crime violations?

[Justice, June 28th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, if that is what she is going to tell them this fall, they are going to be very disappointed.

Yesterday in London, Ontario, two police officers were shot during an incident that left four people dead. The Canadian Police Association wants minimum sentences for serious crimes. The London police chief wants them. It seems that the only one who does not want them is our justice minister.

Mandatory minimum prison sentences are not only about deterrence; they are about protection. Is the government committed to minimum sentences for serious violent crimes?

[Justice, June 28th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it has been four months since the death of four RCMP officers near Mayerthorpe, Alberta, but what has the government done to make our communities and our police officers safer? The families of the victims want changes to our criminal justice system. They are coming to Ottawa this fall to make their case.

How will the minister explain his inaction to the RCMP families when they get here?