bill

The bill provides reasonable and fair compensation for our judges consistent with the important role they play in protecting the key values in our democratic society.

The bill provides reasonable and fair compensation for our judges consistent with the important role they play in protecting the key values in our democratic society.

This bill will both enhance the independence of our courts and improve access to justice.

This bill will both enhance the independence of our courts and improve access to justice.

This is a bill which grants judges an unprecedented salary increase of 8.3% and establishes a judicial compensation and benefits commission.

This is a bill which grants judges an unprecedented salary increase of 8.3% and establishes a judicial compensation and benefits commission.

I recognize the thorough job the Senate did in reviewing the bill and the substantive amendments put forward by the upper house.

I recognize the thorough job the Senate did in reviewing the bill and the substantive amendments put forward by the upper house.

However, while the amendments put forward by our brave colleagues in the Senate are a step in the right direction, we think many more amendments would be required and much more work would have to be done on this bill before the Bloc Quebecois could consider supporting it.

However, while the amendments put forward by our brave colleagues in the Senate are a step in the right direction, we think many more amendments would be required and much more work would have to be done on this bill before the Bloc Quebecois could consider supporting it.

We are also in favour of the Senate amendments for the following reasons: a number of these amendments would bring the French and English versions of the bill more in line with one another, while one other amendment clarifies the mandate of the commission being established by the federal government.

We are also in favour of the Senate amendments for the following reasons: a number of these amendments would bring the French and English versions of the bill more in line with one another, while one other amendment clarifies the mandate of the commission being established by the federal government.

This raises the question of whether the federal government has jurisdiction to legislate the division of estate assets by defining the expression ``surviving spouse'' and with all the rights accorded subsequently in the bill according to the definition of ``surviving spouse''.

This raises the question of whether the federal government has jurisdiction to legislate the division of estate assets by defining the expression ``surviving spouse'' and with all the rights accorded subsequently in the bill according to the definition of ``surviving spouse''.

The purpose of the bill is to amend the Judges Act in order to increase judges' salaries and to change the criteria governing pension plan eligibility.

The purpose of the bill is to amend the Judges Act in order to increase judges' salaries and to change the criteria governing pension plan eligibility.

The bill also establishes the Judicial Benefits and Compensation Commission.

The bill also establishes the Judicial Benefits and Compensation Commission.

Finally, the bill provides for more judges in appeal and unified family courts.

Finally, the bill provides for more judges in appeal and unified family courts.

The bill is the Liberal government's response to the 1995 triennial commission on judges' salaries and benefits, also known as the Scott commission.

The bill is the Liberal government's response to the 1995 triennial commission on judges' salaries and benefits, also known as the Scott commission.

The 1995 Scott Commission I have already referred to recommended a progressive 8.3% increase, and the Liberal government accepted that recommendation in its bill by proposing 4.1% yearly for two years.

The 1995 Scott Commission I have already referred to recommended a progressive 8.3% increase, and the Liberal government accepted that recommendation in its bill by proposing 4.1% yearly for two years.

Today, therefore, I am calling on the Minister of Justice to withdraw her bill and to use the money instead to compensate the provinces for the unjust cuts they have suffered since this Liberal government took office.

Today, therefore, I am calling on the Minister of Justice to withdraw her bill and to use the money instead to compensate the provinces for the unjust cuts they have suffered since this Liberal government took office.

I reviewed some of the comments that I made on behalf of my party some time ago when this bill was first introduced.

I reviewed some of the comments that I made on behalf of my party some time ago when this bill was first introduced.

I said that this bill was very similar to that sauce.

I said that this bill was very similar to that sauce.

As we are speaking there is a bill before the House on land ownership for aboriginal Canadians.

As we are speaking there is a bill before the House on land ownership for aboriginal Canadians.

The bill before us does not answer the questions of the grassroots people.

The bill before us does not answer the questions of the grassroots people.

I am pleased to inform the member opposite that the committee has discussed just that strategy for a witness program when this bill goes to committee.

I am pleased to inform the member opposite that the committee has discussed just that strategy for a witness program when this bill goes to committee.

He could then make his decision when the bill comes back for third reading.

He could then make his decision when the bill comes back for third reading.

When the bill gets to committee and is debated, does the member find there is nothing to the term sovereignty, that it is really not sovereignty we are talking about in these treaties but a form of municipal government?

When the bill gets to committee and is debated, does the member find there is nothing to the term sovereignty, that it is really not sovereignty we are talking about in these treaties but a form of municipal government?

On reflection and on examination of the bill I find I am unable to support the bill in its present form.

On reflection and on examination of the bill I find I am unable to support the bill in its present form.

In the absence of these sections and with first nations no longer being subject to either federal or provincial laws in the areas where they have or would have authority to create their own, this bill has the potential to create a serious legal and legislative vacuum.

In the absence of these sections and with first nations no longer being subject to either federal or provincial laws in the areas where they have or would have authority to create their own, this bill has the potential to create a serious legal and legislative vacuum.

It is a legitimate concern, one that we as parliamentarians must address before this bill is passed.

It is a legitimate concern, one that we as parliamentarians must address before this bill is passed.

On the one hand members of the Reform Party purport to support aboriginal self-government and management of their lands and yet it seems that every single member has risen to nitpick this bill apart, tear it apart and say that because it is not a perfect situation this will go down in flames.

On the one hand members of the Reform Party purport to support aboriginal self-government and management of their lands and yet it seems that every single member has risen to nitpick this bill apart, tear it apart and say that because it is not a perfect situation this will go down in flames.

The member has talked about the need for democratic elections and has questioned that this bill has no constitutional basis for aboriginal government.

The member has talked about the need for democratic elections and has questioned that this bill has no constitutional basis for aboriginal government.