CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 138 Ï NUMBER 112 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, June 5, 2003 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) All parliamentary publications are available on the ``Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire´´ at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 6883 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, June 5, 2003 The House met at 10 a.m. national security. As parliamentarians, we have a duty to the people of Canada to represent, to serve and to debate. As a minister I have a responsibility to inform and that is my purpose here today. Prayers We live in a world still scarred by the events of September 11, 2001. Since then, the world and Canada have taken great strides to enhance security. Terrorist networks have been disrupted, but they ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS are still capable of striking. The attacks in Bali, Saudi Arabia and Morocco are proof of this. That is why it is more important than ever Ï (1005) to ensure we do whatever we can to protect Canadians, our countries, [English] and our friends from the threat of terrorism. That is why it is as INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS important to understand what is going on halfway around the world as it is to understand what is happening in Canada. The Speaker: I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation concerning its visit to Morocco and Egypt from April 13 to 23, 2003. Canada is not immune from the threat of terrorism. In fact, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, whose public report I have *** tabled today, is aware of emerging terrorist threats and tactics that could have severe consequences for Canadians. The possibility that CANADIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons could be Hon. Wayne Easter (Solicitor General of Canada, Lib.): Mr. acquired and used by terrorist groups must be taken seriously. We Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to cannot be complacent and simply believe that it could not happen. table, in both official languages, copies of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service 2002 public report. In November last year, the media reported widely on a statement *** attributed to Osama bin Laden, including Canada among countries deserving, from his perspective, retribution for supporting the war on [Translation] terror. We must acknowledge that Canada is threatened by terrorism. AIR TRAVEL Simply wishing otherwise will not make it go away. That said, there Mr. Marcel Proulx (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister is a need to balance the interests of the state and the broader of Transport, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of community with the rights and freedoms of individuals. Transport, pursuant to section 85.1 of the Canada Transport Act, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada has become increasingly involved in the campaign against Air Travel Complaints Commissioner for July 1, 2002 to December terror. From the listing of entities, to the freezing of assets, to the 31, 2002. signing and ratification of international agreements, our efforts to combat terrorism have been both comprehensive and balanced. We *** continue to work with our international partners, especially those in GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS the G-8. In fact, the Prime Minister just attended one such meeting in this ongoing effort. Mr. Geoff Regan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both On December 24, 2001, the Anti-Terrorism Act was brought into official languages, the government's response to 20 petitions. force. It has new and strong powers, and provides government with the ability to create a list of terrorist entities based on intelligence *** reports and information that the entity either has carried out, [English] participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity. So far, we have listed 26 entities and work continues to identify and list more. The TERRORISM consequences of dealing with a listed entity are severe. In addition to Hon. Wayne Easter (Solicitor General of Canada, Lib.): Mr. seizure and forfeiture of property, penalties include up to 10 years Speaker, it is my privilege to address the House on matters of imprisonment. 6884 COMMONS DEBATES June 5, 2003 Routine Proceedings As required under the new legislation, the government has already I welcome this opportunity to respond to the Solicitor General's reported to Parliament on the use of the new provisions in the act. As statement. I must question why the statement was made. The we have said before, we want to ensure our law enforcement and Solicitor General, other than tabling the Canadian Security security intelligence agencies have the tools they need to protect Intelligence Service public report, provided us with absolutely no Canadians, and we have done so while respecting the fundamental new information or updates on the status of security in this country. rights of Canadians to privacy. Safeguarding the public against the Repeatedly the Solicitor General stated: threat of terror remains the service's first priority, with Islamic We must acknowledge that Canada is threatened by terrorism. Recent events extremism being at the top of the list in its counterterrorism program. remind us that Canada is not immune from the threat or from acts of terrorism. The September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States clearly demonstrated the threats posed by these groups. But the global The Solicitor General and the government should have recognized security environment constantly changes and we must be aware of this long before September 11. Canada is not immune and was not that. We must stand on guard against these dangers and adapt to the immune from terrorism. challenges they pose. I stood in the House together with many of my Canadian Alliance Ï (1010) colleagues months prior to September 11 condemning the govern- We must ensure we have the best people, the best information, and ment and questioning it for its failure to take the threat of terrorism the most up to date technology and legislation to fight these threats. and the threat of organized crime in this country seriously. Since 9/11 We have been active on all these fronts. Advances in communication we have repeatedly demanded that the government improve the and transportation as well as increased trade and migration have intelligence capability of our security forces by providing them with affected every part of our lives. They have also affected how we the much needed resources to do their job effectively. must protect ourselves against terror. We have repeatedly condemned the government for the inordinate It is increasingly clear that no one agency or single government amount of time it took to compile the initial listing of terrorist can fight this threat alone. Partnerships and cooperation are at the entities and the snail's pace at which it brought other names forward heart of our efforts to maintain safety and security. As far as CSIS is to be added to that list. Bill C-36, the anti-terrorism act, received concerned, I am pleased to confirm that this cooperation already royal assent in December 2001. It is a year and a half later and only existed before, but has been solidified since, especially with agencies 26 entities are listed as terrorist organizations, while the United in the United States, our neighbour and friend. CSIS maintains Nations' list includes and identifies some 200. relationships with departments and agencies at all levels of government in Canada and with more than 230 foreign agencies in Once again I take great exception to the Solicitor General's over 130 countries. contention that the government's efforts to combat terrorism have “been both comprehensive and balanced”. Since September 11, 2001, CSIS has significantly increased its information exchange with its partners, but it has not changed the If, as we have said repeatedly, the government is truly committed fundamental way it works. Security intelligence is still collected, to the global war on terrorism, the Solicitor General should be doing analyzed, and reported to government according to the same much more, such as identifying and listing the entities at a much methods and procedures laid down in the legislation that created faster rate and significantly increasing the resources to both CSIS the service as a separate, civilian, security intelligence organization and the RCMP. The government should be tightening airport and nearly 20 years ago. However, the war on terror has intensified the port security. It should be providing CSIS with the power and the pressures and demands on the service, and it has focused the authority to operate abroad rather than relying and piggybacking on attention of the world. We are part of a global effort to keep our other foreign countries for intelligence information. countries and our communities safe, free, and free from fear. As a member of the Subcommittee on National Security, I have Our war on terrorism is a war against those who create fear by repeatedly questioned witnesses regarding whether or not the powers murderous means, those who would indiscriminately inflict harm on of CSIS should be expanded, or whether a new and separate agency our people, and those who seek to attack our way of life through should be established based on differing opinions and different violent means and hide in the very freedoms that our society individuals coming forward with different ideas regarding this. provides. Let me be perfectly clear. The war on terrorism will continue and In 2002 Richard Fadden, the former deputy clerk of the Privy undergo even more changes in the future.