Debates of March 31st, 1995

Réal Ménard Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the relevant provisions of our Standing Orders, I have the pleasure of submitting a petition signed by 41 petitioners who call upon Parliament to act swiftly to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to explicitly proscribe discrimination based on sexual orientation in every area under federal jurisdiction and take the necessary steps to have same sex live-in partners recognized in federal legislation.

Andy Scott Fredericton—York—Sunbury, NB

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present a petition signed by approximately 100 residents of Fredericton-York-Sunbury and neighbouring ridings which calls on Parliament to ensure present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in law that would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or any activity designed to terminate human life.

André Caron Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by 257 petitioners from my riding who pray and call upon Parliament to ask the government to abandon plans for voice mail for seniors.

Barry Campbell St. Paul's, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by over 50 people who live in and around my constituency which calls on Parliament to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Lyle Vanclief Prince Edward—Hastings, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table two petitions.

The first petition is signed by 53 people. It requests the government not amend the Canadian human rights code and the Canadian Human Rights Act in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or homosexuality.

Lyle Vanclief Prince Edward—Hastings, ON

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by 46 people and calls on the government to request Parliament to delete section 718.2 from Bill C-41.

Garry Breitkreuz Yorkton—Melville, SK

Will the government please provide statistical evidence showing that violent crime has been and/or will be reduced and that public safety has been and/or will be improved by each of the following measures ( a ) the registration of handguns and other restricted firearms, ( b ) the prohibition of various types of firearms, ( c ) Firearms Acquisition Certificates, ( d ) the inclusion of safe storage, handling and transportation provisions in the Criminal Code of Canada, ( e ) restricting the sale of ammunition, and ( f ) the implementation of a universal registration system for firearms and firearms owners?

Russell MacLellan Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

The firearms legislation of 1978, 1992 and the current legislative proposals have all introduced several different firearm control measures concurrently. As such, it is not possible for researchers and statisticians precisely to determine the extent to which specific control measures are or will be responsible for reductions in violent crime and increases in public safety in Canada.

The following reports were produced for the Department of Justice Canada to provide the Minister of Justice and the government with background research and statistical information. These reports are available from the research and statistics directorate of the Department of Justice: "Firearm Ownership in Canada," 1991, by Angus Reid Group, Inc. (TR1991-8a); "Domestic Homicides Involving the Use of Firearms," 1992, by Dansys Consultants (WD1992-20e); "Gun Availability and Firearms Suicide," 1992, by S. Moyer and P.J. Carrington (WD1993-3e); "The Use of Firearms in Criminal Incidents in Toronto," September, 1994, by L. Axon & S. Moyer (WD1994-19e); "Review of Firearms Registration," 1994, by T. Wade and R. Tennuci of RES Policy Research Inc. (TR1994-9e); "Research on the Application of Section 85 of the Criminal Code of Canada," 1994, by C. Meredith, B. Steinke, and S. Palmer (WD1994-20e); "Firearm Statistics," October, 1994, by Kwing Hung, Department of Justice Canada.

Ronald J. Duhamel St. Boniface, MB

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