House of Commons Hansard #210 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was war.

Topics

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Sarkis Assadourian Liberal Brampton Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, this weekend Canadians lived a historic day. Based on that historic day it is my pleasure to introduce a motion for which I hope I have unanimous consent:

That the House request Canada Post to issue a commemorative stamp in honour of Wayne Gretzky in recognition of his unique contribution to Canadian sport in general and hockey in particular.

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Does the hon. member for Brampton Centre have unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

An hon. member

No.

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Sarkis Assadourian Liberal Brampton Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I spoke to all the House leaders and they all agreed. Maybe, if you ask the question again, they could clarify their positions.

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The Chair is reluctant to continue putting the question. I am sure the Chair heard a no. I do not think it is a matter for House leaders to make a blanket decision on a matter of this kind. It requires the consent of all hon. members, not just House leaders, and I do not believe there was consent.

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

Mr. Speaker, I believe consent was unanimous.

The no you heard had nothing to do with the question you had asked.

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

I will then put the question again to the House.

The House heard the terms of the motion moved by the hon. member for Brampton Centre. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Wayne GretzkyRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by many constituents requesting that the House ask the government to amend the Divorce Act to include a provision as supported in Bill C-340 regarding the right of the grandparents of spouses to have access to or custody of children without having to go to court.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Val Meredith Reform South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of signatories from all across British Columbia, I would like to present a petition which requests and prays that parliament will take all measures necessary to ensure that possession of child pornography remains a serious criminal offence, and that federal police forces be directed to give priority to enforcing this law for the protection of children.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present three petitions from constituents of the great riding of Prince George—Bulkley Valley.

The first one contains several hundred names of people who are very concerned about the growing trade in child pornography. They are very concerned about the lack of government action on curbing child pornography.

These petitioners plead for the federal government to do whatever is in its power to uphold the current provisions of the Criminal Code against the possession of child pornography.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is also from citizens of Prince George—Bulkley Valley.

They are very concerned about the practice of abortion in the country and the taking of over 105,000 innocent human lives every year. Therefore the petitioners call upon parliament to enact legislation against causing the death of an unborn human by abortion at any stage along the continuum of prenatal life.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, my third petition is from constituents of Prince George—Bulkley Valley as well.

They are concerned about the misunderstanding of the act of marriage which is clearly defined by government acts. They pray that parliament enact Bill C-225, an act to amend the Marriage Act and the Interpretation Act, so as to define in statute that a marriage can only be entered into between a single male and a single female.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Randy White Reform Langley—Abbotsford, BC

Mr. Speaker, in a period of only 10 months four sexual assaults took place in the Abbotsford area and all four were committed by residents of the Sumas Community Correctional Centre. The last sexual assault was committed by a dangerous repeat offender with 63 prior convictions.

The petitioners call upon parliament to enact legislation to ensure that Sumas Community Correctional Centre officials have the right to refuse violent, repeat and dangerous offenders who could pose a danger to society and that habitual offenders and sexual perpetrators not be allowed to reside at the Sumas Community Correctional Centre any longer.

This petition raises the total to over 30,000 people, without a response from the government.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Peterborough Ontario

Liberal

Peter Adams LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, the following question will be answered today: question No 221. .[Text]

Question No. 221—

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB

What is the total number of agriculture and agri-food businesses in Canada that have declared bankruptcy since the start of the 1996-97 crop year as a direct or indirect result of the falling commodity prices during the farm income crisis, listing the names of those businesses?

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-food

Bankruptcies are caused by a combination of factors that can include declining prices, production problems, marketing problems, and high debt levels. Loss of off farm employment can also be a contributing factor for some farms. Attibuting a bankruptcy to one factor would not be accurate. Further, most agri-food businesses such as restaurants and grocery stores would not be dramatically affected by swings in the price of farm commodities and it would be inappropriate to include them with farm bankruptcies. The total number of farm bankruptcies from the beginning of the 1996-97 crop year to the end of 1998 was 596. From January 1, 1996 to the end of 1998, there were 762 farm bankruptcies. This represents the lowest three year average of farm bankruptcies for the last two decades. In the 1980s the three year average ranged from 1,013 to 1,547 and has been declining since 1992 when it reached 1,231.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada does not have a listing of the names of agri-food businesses and farms which have had to declare bankruptcy. Additional information on bankruptcies may be available from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy at phone number 613-941-1000.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Mr. Speaker, I suggest the other questions stand.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Is it agreed?

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion and of the amendment.