Debates of April 28th, 2006

Jay Hill Prince George—Peace River, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-235, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conditional sentencing).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to reintroduce a private member's bill that I have introduced in the three previous parliaments, the first time on May 26, 1999.

This legislation is designed to address the frequent misuse of the conditional sentencing provision in the Criminal Code of Canada.

The former Liberal government passed section 742.1 of the Criminal Code into law in 1995, despite warnings that without clear instructions to judges, killers and other violent offenders could literally get away with murder. Time and again that is precisely what has happened.

If passed, this bill would ensure that certain serious and violent offences, such as murder, assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, drug trafficking, manslaughter, et cetera, would be excluded from consideration for conditional sentencing, meaning the convict would have to serve jail time.

For the first time since I introduced this legislation seven years ago, we have a Prime Minister and justice minister that understand the need to close this conditional loophole to violent offenders. I look forward to working with the Prime Minister and justice minister to rectify that problem in this Parliament for the sake of victims and all law-abiding Canadians.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Gary Goodyear Cambridge, ON

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the third report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Does the hon. parliamentary secretary have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

The Speaker Peter Milliken

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

The Speaker Peter Milliken

(Motion agreed to)

I should advise the House that the fourth report is deemed adopted pursuant to Standing Order 113(1).

Mario Silva Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am once again rising in this House to present a petition signed by many people across the country. The petitioners call upon Parliament to immediately halt the deportation of undocumented workers and to find a humane and logical solution to the situation.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak to Mr. Jaimie Ledo. He is somebody who went to Portugal with his wife Viviane Souza. They have a four-year-old son named Jimmy who was born in this country. They left before the deportation orders because they were afraid the family would be separated. The mother is from Brazil and the father is from Portugal.

This is a real human tragedy, and I am trying to see what the government can do. It is unfair to separate husbands and wives from their children, especially Canadian-born children.

Lee Richardson Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, in regard to the humanitarian concern in northern Uganda, caring and concerned students from Calgary Christian School marched through the streets of Calgary, over 10 kilometres, to present this petition to my office in Calgary to draw attention to this dire humanitarian concern.

The petitioners would ask that the Government of Canada take a leadership role in ending this terrible conflict.

Randy Kamp Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, I pleased to present a petition from my constituents, most from the beautiful city of Mission.

The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the fact that in current federal law an unborn child is not recognized as a victim, with respect to violent crimes. They believe that the vast majority of the public supports laws that protect unborn children from acts of violence against their mothers that also injure or kill the child in their wombs.

Therefore, they call upon Parliament to enact legislation which would recognize unborn children as separate victims when they are injured or killed during the commission of an offence against their mothers, allowing two charges to be laid against the offender instead of just one.

Pierre Poilievre Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, it is with some sadness that I introduce a petition by constituents in my riding who are concerned about the ongoing persecution of Egyptian Christians in their home country of Egypt.

Over the last several years, we have seen a growing degree of violence carried out by extremists and terrorists, and an Egyptian justice system which has failed to protect those minority Christians. These are the same kinds of terrorists who carry out terrorist activities against states like Israel, United States, Spain and other places.

It is my honour to stand in the House against them and in favour of the rights of these Christian minorities and, indeed, of all people around the world.

Larry Miller Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me today to present four petitions on behalf of my constituents.

The first petition has been signed by 85 people in my riding. The petitioners ask that the government recognize traditional marriage as being between a man and a woman and being the lifelong union of such.

Larry Miller Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by 33 people. The petitioners ask that the government remove the federal excise tax on diesel fuel and gasoline.

Larry Miller Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON

Mr. Speaker, the third petition has been signed by 146 people, most of them seniors. The petitioners ask that income splitting for seniors be allowed in a manner that would equalize the taxes assessed to each spouse.