October
2001
One month ago events occurred on our continent that instantly
changed the way we saw our own world. For years we have felt immune to terrorist actions –
relegating them to places like Israel, Spain, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, or Northern
Ireland – never in our backyard. However,
the events in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania brought us
face-to-face with the horror and evil of the terrorist world.
Even if these events did not happen on Canadian soil they still affect us
in many ways. Our country is tied economically, historically, and in some
cases socially with the United States. We
have been inundated with news briefings from various American federal officials
and departments, twenty-four hour coverage by CNN, and the constant flood of
patriotic images from our southern neighbour.
For me the image of more than 100,000 people in front of the Peace Tower
paying their respects to the lives lost shows that we feel our neighbour’s
pain, and we want to help.
Many Canadians are wondering what Canada is going to do to
help the United States. Since the
opening of Parliament, less than a week after the attack, we in the Canadian
Alliance Official Opposition have been repeatedly asking that very question:
“What are we doing?” We’ve
been pushing for answers on three broad areas: anti-terrorism legislation,
security of our borders, and increased resources for our Armed Forces and
safety.
It’s the responsibility of the Official Opposition, in a
Parliamentary system, to ask the tough questions, to ensure that the Government
is fulfilling its responsibilities to Canadian citizens.
We do this with vigour and diligence, not to score political points, but
to seek assurances that the Canadian Government is doing all that it can to
protect and preserve our national security, and to meet our duties and
obligations to our friends and allies.
Allegations that
the terrorists used Canada as a conduit to the United States are alarming.
Our lax immigration and refugee policy has made Canada an attractive
staging ground for terrorist cells in the past, and there is little reason to
think it hasn’t happened in this case. Let’s
be clear though. Because we push
the Government, and the Immigration Minister hard for answers on tightening up
immigration policies, it’s not because the Canadian Alliance is
anti-immigration; far from it. Yes,
immigrants have built our country. Many
of us have had grandparents or great-grandparents who were the beneficiaries of
Canadian immigration policy. Their
hard work has created a wonderful country, but we must protect it.
If protecting it means a tightening of immigration then we must do so.
Our party has learned that immigration officials have lost track of
27,000 refugees who have been ordered deported.
I am not saying that everyone who is a refugee is a threat to national
security, but there does come a point when we must be more diligent in saying
who can and cannot stay within our borders.
Changes to immigration regulations would help, but more needs
to be done. Over the past eight
years of Liberal government, resources for protection of the public have
steadily eroded. The Armed Forces,
the RCMP, and CSIS comprise our security forces, but if current trends continue
we will end up with a second-class security force. These three organizations are chronically under funded.
The number of troops currently in the Armed Forces stands at 55,000 –
down from 90,000 in 1993. Our equipment is quickly becoming outdated – even our
prized CF-18 jets are getting old. One
bright spot we have is the Joint Task Force Two (JTF2), which is similar to the
American Delta Force. This commando
unit is as skilled as their American and British (SAS) counterparts.
But even with JTF2 our Armed Forces will not be able to contribute a
significant amount if a decision on a military strike is made.
We must bolster not only the finances of our military, but also their
morale. Our fighting men and women serve this country unselfishly and
should be admired, respected, and supported. Our criticism of the state of
Canadian military preparedness should not be interpreted as a negative
reflection on our soldiers or our National Defence staff.
It is however, a direct indictment of the low priority the Liberal
government places on our national security.
What about the long-term plan to combat terrorism?
Our party has repeatedly asked the government to introduce anti-terrorist
legislation. One day after the House resumed, on September 18th,
we introduced a motion calling for comprehensive legislation, based on the
models in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Among the things our motion called for was a ban on fund-raising by
terrorist groups, the naming and banning of terrorist organizations and the
deportation of non-Canadians convicted of terrorist crimes.
The Liberals voted that motion down.
Now we hear the Government is going to introduce anti-terrorism
legislation when Parliament resumes on October 15th.
That is welcome news, but I will be expecting sweeping changes, tough
regulations and harsh sanctions to be included in that bill, not the weak,
half-measures we’ve come to expect from this Government.
Right now I need to know what you think.
Tell me what would make you feel safer, and what should the government do
in order to alleviate your fears and concerns.
We must have comprehensive legislation so terrorist groups cannot put
down roots in this country. We must
send a clear message to those who use terror to advance a cause that they will
not succeed. Let us work together on this, and pray together.
“God keep our land, glorious and free.”
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