Debates of Feb. 24th, 2009

Joe Preston Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2) this report contains a list of items added to the order of precedence as a result of the replenishment that took place on Tuesday, February 10 under private members' business that should not be designated non-votable.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Pursuant to Standing Order 91(1)(2) the report is deemed adopted.

(Motion agreed to)

Joe Preston Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the associate membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I move concurrence at this time.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Does the hon. member for Elgin--Middlesex--London have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Joe Preston Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON

(Motion agreed to)

Borys Wrzesnewskyj Etobicoke Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present a petition signed by over 100 individuals from the Ottawa-Gatineau area who are members of the St. Leopold Mandic Croatian Church, Croatian S.C. Jadran and the Croatian Folklore Ensemble “Croatoan” .

The petitioners strongly urge the government to adopt my motion, Motion No. 247, and lift visitor visa restrictions on Croatia. The days of the Iron Curtain have ended. Croatia is on the way to joining the European Union, is on its way to joining NATO and is standing shoulder to shoulder with Canadian armed forces in Afghanistan and with our partners in other NATO-led missions.

It is time for Canada to follow the example of Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom and lift visitor visa requirements for Croatia.

Paul Szabo Mississauga South, ON

Mr. Speaker, at a time when accountability is a very hot issue in this place, I am pleased to present yet another petition forwarded to me by a Mr. White from Whitby, Ontario, on the subject matter of income trusts.

In this petition, Mr. White declares that he remembers the Prime Minister having said that the greatest fraud is a promise not kept. He also reminds the Prime Minister that he promised never to tax income trusts but broke that promise and imposed the 31.5% punitive tax, which permanently wiped out over $25 billion of the hard-earned retirement savings of over two million Canadians, particularly seniors.

The petitioners, therefore, call upon the Conservative minority government to: first, admit that the decision to tax income trusts was based on flawed methodology and incorrect assumptions; second, to apologize to those who were unfairly farmed by this broken promise; and, third, to repeal the punitive 31.5% tax on income trusts.

Tom Lukiwski Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

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

The Deputy Speaker Andrew Scheer

Is that agreed?