Debates of March 24th, 1995

Business Of The House

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there are no amendments on the Order Paper, either from the hon. member or any of his colleagues. I am unable to answer the question directly. I must, however, point out that the government does not want any changes made to the bill as it stands.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

In that case, Mr. Speaker, we must inform you that we are prepared to work on Saturday and Sunday. There is no consent. Too bad for the Liberals if they thought they could get out of working on Saturday and Sunday.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, a point of order. I want to make it clear that though we object to back to work legislation, we think it should be passed in all stages today. The strike has gone on long enough.

[Stephen Harper, Reform, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I can also clarify the position of the Reform Party. We are prepared to work on Saturday and Sunday, but we hope that railway workers will do the same.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

Order. Does the House give its unanimous consent to allow the hon. parliamentary secretary to table his motion?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

There is not unanimous consent.

Petitions

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have two petitions to present. The first is from the war pensioners of Canada in regard to basic service pensions.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have a petition asking that Parliament not make amendments dealing with same sex relationships and sexual orientation.

[Réginald Bélair, Liberal, Cochrane—Superior, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition containing some 2,000 names on the gun control bill.

The petition deals mostly with the registration aspect of the bill. The petitioners say that if they fail to register their guns they will end up with a criminal record the same as a real criminal who has committed a real crime with a gun. This is extremely unfair, to say the least.

Therefore, it is my duty to present this petition to the House with the hope that the minister will listen.

[Murray Calder, Liberal, Wellington—Grey—Dufferin—Simcoe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have five petitions to present today that are all similar in nature.

The first two contain 33 and 48 signatures respectively, calling on Parliament to oppose any amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Canadian Charter of Rights which provides for the inclusion of the phrase sexual orientation.

The third and fourth petitions contain 42 and 80 signatures, requesting that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that would in any way indicate societal approval of same sex relationships, prohibit discrimination or include the phrase sexual orientation.

[Murray Calder, Liberal, Wellington—Grey—Dufferin—Simcoe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the final petition contains 50 signatures and requests that Parliament oppose any legislation that would directly or indirectly redefine the commonly understood definition of family, including the provision of marriage or the extension of benefits.

[Ronald J. Duhamel, Liberal, St. Boniface, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the petitioners believe that violence and abuse in our society is a growing concern.

They also believe that violence and abuse in all forms in the media is something that has to be checked. They are particularly concerned about the way in which it might affect young children.

The petitioners ask the government to ensure that the CRTC do what it can to minimize and reduce unnecessary violence and abuse in the media. They point out that very often what is seen, heard and read is counter to what people try to do to raise their children.

At the same time they point out that certain gains have been made and they appreciate the recent efforts of the CRTC in this regard.

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, York North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the pleasure to present a petition.

The petitioners request that the Parliament of Canada enact legislation that will strictly control the sale, possession and use of all firearms and ammunition, ban military weapons and severely restrict access to handguns.

[Rex Crawford, Liberal, Kent, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise once again in the House pursuant to Standing Order 36 to present a petition on behalf of the constituents of Surrey, B.C.

The petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to act as the spokesperson for the hundreds of residents in my riding who signed a petition asking the government to reconsider its decision to install voice mail systems in some departments. As you know, elderly people are the first ones to be affected by this new technology. I am pleased to table this petition, which I support, on their behalf.

[André Caron, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of presenting a petition signed by 585 people in my riding, who are asking Parliament to maintain the existing social security net.

This petition is in addition to the one on the same issue, which was signed by 11,000 people from my region, at the initiative of Solidarité populaire Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, and which I forwarded to the Department of Human Resources Development.

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it gives me pleasure to present a petition from my riding of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca where the people request the government not pass Bill C-41 as it is presently written to include the phrase sexual orientation, as the behaviour people engage in does not warrant special consideration under the law.

[Jim Gouk, Reform, Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure, pursuant to Standing Order 36, to present two petitions today.

The first calls on Parliament to refrain from passing any more firearms related laws which serve to restrict the rights, freedoms and ownership of law-abiding citizens. It further calls on Parliament to substantially strengthen Criminal Code punishment for those who are convicted of unlawful weapons offences.

[Jim Gouk, Reform, Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from the residents of Kootenay West-Revelstoke. Notwithstanding the presentation of the budget, the problems carry on. They call on Parliament to reduce government spending instead of increasing taxes. This petition is signed by over 2,000 residents of my riding.

[John Duncan, Reform, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present again another petition on this course of action undertaken on behalf of Canadians who wish to halt the early release from prison of Robert Paul Thompson.

The petitioners are concerned about making our streets safer. They are opposed to the current practice of the early release of violent offenders prior to serving the full extent of their sentences.

The petitioners pray our streets will be made safer for law-abiding citizens and the families of the victims of convicted murderers.

[Ted White, Reform, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am rising in the House today to present four petitions all on the same subject.

The first is signed by 90 residents of North Vancouver, headed up by Betty Clowers. The second is signed by Richard Miller of North Vancouver and 78 others. The third is signed by Mr. Rudolph DeVente and 220 others in North Vancouver. The fourth is signed by 52 employees of Chemetics International in Vancouver.

All of these petitioners pray and request that Parliament reduce government spending instead of increasing taxes and implement a taxpayer protection act to limit federal spending.

I would like to mention on this subject that the Deputy Prime Minister promised to resign if the GST had not gone in one year and she still has not done it.

[Charles Hubbard, Liberal, Miramichi, NB]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have two petitions, one signed by the residents of Boiestown and the second by residents of Miramichi city.

These two petitions pray and request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

I ask, Mr. Speaker, that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.