House of Commons Hansard #118 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was antarctic.

Topics

Public Safety Officers Compensation ActRoutine Proceedings

12:25 p.m.

The Speaker

Does the hon. government House leader have the unanimous consent of the House to move this motion?

Public Safety Officers Compensation ActRoutine Proceedings

12:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Public Safety Officers Compensation ActRoutine Proceedings

12:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

No

Business of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:25 p.m.

Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario

Liberal

Don Boudria LiberalMinister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, under motions, pursuant to Standing Order 56.1, I move:

That, when the House adjourns this day, it shall stand adjourned until September 15, 2003 provided that, for the purpose of any Standing Order, it shall be deemed to stand adjourned pursuant to Standing Order 28.

Business of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:25 p.m.

The Speaker

Will those members who object to the motion please rise in their places.

And fewer than 25 members having risen:

Business of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:25 p.m.

The Speaker

Fewer than 25 members having risen, the motion is adopted.

(Motion agreed to)

Business of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:25 p.m.

The Speaker

Before the hon. House leader rises on a point of order, there will be a reception for all hon. members in room 216 starting at about 1 o'clock, if that is satisfactory to hon. members.

The hon. government House leader and all hon. members are, of course, invited.

Business of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:25 p.m.

Liberal

Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Mr. Speaker, I wish to designate Tuesday, September 16 as an allotted day.

May I take this opportunity to wish my very best to all hon. members for the summer, to you, Mr. Speaker, to the staff of the House of Commons and indeed, and no doubt you will do so yourself, to all our pages who have served us so well and all other employees.

Business of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:25 p.m.

The Speaker

I hope hon. members will have a chance to speak to some of the pages at the reception.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Leon Benoit Canadian Alliance Lakeland, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have three groups of petitions that I would like to present today.

The first has to do with marriage. The petitioners say that marriage is the best foundation for families and the raising of children and that the institution of marriage is between a man and a woman, and that is being challenged.

The petitioners therefore ask that Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage as being between a man and a woman.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Leon Benoit Canadian Alliance Lakeland, AB

Mr. Speaker, the second group of petitions is on child pornography. The petitioners call for the House of Commons to say that the use of child pornography is condemned clearly by all Canadians.

They therefore call upon Parliament to protect our children by taking the necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote and glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Leon Benoit Canadian Alliance Lakeland, AB

Madam Speaker, the third group is on the issue of stem cell research.

The petitioners say that thousands of Canadians suffer from debilitating illnesses such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer and so on, and that there is a lot of potential to provide cures through stem cell research.

They call on Parliament to refuse the use of embryonic stem cells and to focus instead on adult stem cell research which can provide cures for these diseases.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Liberal

Joe McGuire Liberal Egmont, PE

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 my petitioners wish to call upon Parliament to focus its legislative support on adult stem cell research to find the cures and therapies necessary to treat the illnesses and diseases of suffering Canadians, diseases and illnesses such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, muscular dystrophy and spinal cord injury.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Rahim Jaffer Canadian Alliance Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Madam Speaker, I am happy to present a petition today on behalf of Canadians who want their right of informed freedom of choice and access to non-drug medicinal products of their own choosing. As well, the petitioners would like the clarification of the current vague definitions of food and drugs in the outdated 1927-1952 Food and Drugs Act by enacting Bill C-420, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Liberal

Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON

Madam Speaker, I have a number of petitions, starting with a petition signed by 76 people, calling upon Parliament to maintain the law on marriage as being a lifelong union of one man and woman to the exclusion of all others.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Liberal

Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON

Madam Speaker, the second petition deals with child pornography.

The petitioners call on Parliament to protect our children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that raw materials which promote or glorify pedophilia and sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Liberal

Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON

Madam Speaker, the last petition is from the rural route mail couriers. The petitioners call upon Parliament to allow for collective bargaining and to repeal subsection 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Ted White Canadian Alliance North Vancouver, BC

Madam Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of John and Barbara Stuart and 92 others in which they draw the attention of the House to the following.

The addition of sexual orientation as an explicitly protected category under section 318 and 319 of the Criminal Code of Canada could lead to individuals being unable to exercise their religious freedom as protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and to express their moral and religious doctrines regarding homosexuality without fear of criminal prosecution.

The current provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada can be effective in preventing true threats against individuals or groups without changes to section 318 and 319 of the code.

Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to protect the rights of Canadians to be free to share their religious beliefs without fear of prosecution.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:30 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege as member of Parliament for Prince George—Peace River to present two groups of petitions today.

The first consists of three petitions containing hundreds of name from Pouce Coupe, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd and Fort St. John in my riding, as well as Mississauga, Markham, Newmarket and even from that small city of Toronto.

The petitioners note that divorce can have a very detrimental effect on children if they are prevented from having meaningful relationships with both parents, grandparents and siblings. An equal shared parenting role for both spouses after divorce would be in the best interests of the child. They are calling upon Parliament to pass legislation to incorporate into the Divorce Act an equal shared parenting role for both parents following separation and guaranteed access to grandparents and siblings, as dictated by the best interests of the child.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:35 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC

Madam Speaker, my second group consists of two petitions primarily from Prince George in my riding, but also from Fort St. John, Charlie Lake and the surrounding area. It deals with the issue of marriage, which is certainly a hot topic right now. The petitioners note that marriage is the best foundation for families and for the raising of children.

The House passed a motion in June 1999 that called for marriage to continue to be recognized as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. Therefore, the petitioners call upon Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as being a lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:35 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Scott Reid Canadian Alliance Lanark—Carleton, ON

Madam Speaker, today I am presenting a petition on behalf of a number of constituents from several ridings close to my own in Ontario. These are petitions that were circulated by members of provincial parliaments, specifically Marcel Beaubien and Bob Runciman. They relate to the question of gun control and particularly the firearms long gun registry.

The petitioners draw to the attention of the House of Commons the wild cost overruns in the firearms registry, which they regard as turning the long gun registry into a metaphor for government waste. They also draw to the attention of the House of Commons the complete ineffectiveness of the firearms registry in keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals. This relates to the issue of property rights.

Madam Speaker, I wanted to mention as well, because this is our last day in the House of Commons before the House rises, that I hope you personally and all my colleagues have a very good summer this year.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Madam Speaker, as you know, ministers are unable to present petitions in the House. Therefore, on behalf of my hon. colleague, the member for Elgin—Middlesex—London, I am pleased to present a number of petitions.

The first group of petitions call upon Parliament to take all measures necessary to protect the rights of Canadians to freely share their religious and moral beliefs without fear of prosecution.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Madam Speaker, the next group of petitions is regarding Iraq. The petitioners request that Parliament resolve that Canada continue to insist that the UN authorize inspections for weapons of mass destruction and that they be conducted without any undue haste.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Madam Speaker, the next group of petitions calls upon Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage as being the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

Madam Speaker, the next group of petitions calls upon Parliament to use the notwithstanding clause to protect marriage.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Madam Speaker, the next group of petitions calls upon Parliament to support adult stem cell research.