NEWS RELEASE

October 14, 2004                                                                                              For Immediate Release

BREITKREUZ ELECTED VICE-CHAIR OF COMMONS JUSTICE COMMITTEE

“We have a unique opportunity to direct taxpayers’ money into areas that

are real public safety priorities for taxpayers.”

Ottawa – Saskatchewan MP Garry Breitkreuz has been elected as Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.  “I’ve been on the Hill for eleven years and this is the first time I’ve been elected as vice-chair of a standing committee,” commented Breitkreuz.  “The Justice Committee  will be very interesting because the Liberals no longer hold a majority.  Consequently, the Liberals no longer control the committee’s agenda or the outcomes of every vote.”

Indeed, government members already lost a vote that will see the Liberal government’s parliamentary secretary excluded from steering committee meetings, reported Breitkreuz.  “The first real test for the Justice Committee will be during our review and votes on the Estimates.”  The 2004-2005 Estimates for the Department of Justice and the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness were referred to Committee last Friday.  “The votes to watch will be the ones related to the under-funding of the RCMP Forensic Laboratory Services, particularly DNA crime scene analysis, and over-funding of the Canada Firearms Centre,” predicted Breitkreuz.  “We have a unique opportunity to direct taxpayers’ money into areas that are real public safety priorities for taxpayers – not the political priorities of the Prime Minister.”

The Justice Committee held its first meeting on Wednesday to elect officers and approve committee procedures.  Members of the Standing Committee on Justice are: Paul DeVillers (LIB), Chair; Garry Breitkreuz (CPC), Vice-Chair; Richard Marceau (BQ), Vice-Chair; Diane Bourgeois (BQ); Roy Cullen (LIB); Paul Macklin (LIB); John Maloney (LIB); Anita Neville (LIB); Myron Thompson (CPC); Vic Toews (CPC); Mark Warawa (CPC); and Joe Comartin (NDP).

Legislation scheduled for review by the Justice Committee is as follows:

• Bill C-2 – An Act to amend the child pornography provisions of the Criminal Code.
• Bill C-6 – An Act to establish the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (formerly known as the Department of the Solicitor General).
• Bill C-10 - An Act to amend sections in the Criminal Code governing persons found unfit to stand trial or not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder

Breitkreuz concluded that it is quite rare for a non-lawyer to be elevated to a leadership position on the Justice Committee.  He appreciates the respect shown to him as a reward for his years of hard work on justice issues, and he made a special commitment to improve government legislation as it is reviewed and amended at the committee.

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