Minister of Safety and Public Services, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. I would like to ask the Minister, then, who did authorize the distribution of this document because some of the information in it, as you mentioned, is true but some is not true. I would like to get clarification.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I don't want to get into the matter of identifying who was involved. I just want to accept part of the responsibility that it happened. The issue has now been dealt with. We have advised our staff that this kind of information should not be forwarded without the approval of the deputy minister in the future. All of our directors have been advised of that. It was an unfortunate piece of information.

Well, the honourable Member here probably thinks it is a good idea, but we're not certain that the information is absolutely correct. We were mentioned and the RCMP was mentioned in the information. There are legal questions we're now asking the Department of Justice to review and I'm not, at this particular time, prepared to discuss who should be held accountable. I probably should be and, therefore, I am answering the question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

I'd like to thank the Minister for that information. I'm not saying it's a bad idea or a good idea, I think it's appropriate if the information is factual. The public should be aware of the laws in our Criminal Code. I find this particular document interesting because it states that illegal gambling is a felony offence. To my knowledge, "felony offences" is a term used in the United States of America. In Canada, we have indictable offences and summary offences. I wonder if the Minister is considering changing our Criminal Code Act to allow felony offences in Canada?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If you support me if I seek election as a Member of Parliament, I might be able to do it.

---Laughter

I just want to advise the honourable Member again that part of the information...I think the honourable Member has pointed out one of the problems, which is we're putting in information that might not be correct and reflective of legislation in this country. Therefore, I find it difficult to say that all the information is accurate. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, we have advised our staff that this type of information should not be provided to the general public unless it receives the support of the deputy minister and has undergone the appropriate legal analysis. The honourable Member has pointed out just one clause. I accept the comments that have been made by the honourable Member and the concerns raised.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. So will the Minister be making corrective adjustments to this document or to the information in the next payroll package that goes out?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Well, put it this way, I really believe there is other, more important information that should be provided to the staff. Again, I don't want to take up a whole lot of time trying to discourage friends and staff from doing things that are illegal. I don't want them to be recommending that, but, at the same time, I'm not really interested in encouraging our staff to go around, nor would I encourage the RCMP to go around and monitor whether we have hockey pools, for instance. I think that would be inappropriate. I think there are other, more serious criminal matters that the RCMP should be involved in. Many of those issues have been raised in this Assembly: drugs; youth crime; and, other criminal activity.

I find that information is important, but it should also be taken in the context of the seriousness of the issue. But I will review the matter and ensure that information is appropriately and correctly provided. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Ms. Mike.