Debates of Oct. 3rd, 2012

Irwin Cotler Mount Royal, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of tabling two important petitions on behalf of my constituents and other citizens of Canada.

The first petition, signed by many of my constituents, calls upon the government to restore full funding to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.

The petitioners note that the government committed to increasing foreign aid but cut development assistance by a further 10% in budget 2012, making us among the lower donor countries.

These cuts have forced organizations such as Development and Peace to significantly reduce the scope of their activities.

The petitioners are also calling on the government to reaffirm its commitment to humanitarian aid.

Irwin Cotler Mount Royal, QC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from Canadians in southern Ontario who have expressed grave concern regarding the government's decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area research station near Kenora, Ontario, where the ELA is a one-of-a-kind global leader in environmental research and has played a key role in shaping national and international environmental policy.

The petitioners note--

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

Order, please. Once again, I will just use this opportunity to again remind members to provide a brief summary, not to read the entire petition.

The hon. member for Thunder Bay—Superior North.

Bruce Hyer Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today.

The first petition is from residents of Kenora, Ontario, who are very concerned about the government's announced closure of the ELA, the Experimental Lakes Area. It is a unique area, studying lakes, rivers and fish.

The petitioners join over 24,000 other Canadians in this petition.

Bruce Hyer Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is on behalf of people from across Canada, including Alberta, Ontario and P.E.I., in support of my cell phone freedom bill, Bill C-560, which they feel takes an important step to providing more consumer choice and promotes competition in the domestic wireless market by unchaining owners from anti-competitive network locks and not allowing them to switch carriers, get full value when selling their phones or using local SIM cards when travelling abroad.

Kevin Lamoureux Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, I bring forward a petition in regard to Canada's leading freshwater research station.

Since 1968, the ELA has been a global leader in conducting whole ecosystem experiments that have been critical in shaping environmental policy and understanding human impacts on the lakes and fish.

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

Mr. Speaker, if a revised response to Question No. 745 originally tabled on September 17, 2012, could be made an order for return, this return would be tabled immediately.

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

Is that agreed?

Philip Toone Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC

From fiscal year 2010-2011 to the current fiscal year, what is the total amount of funding that the government had provided, each year, in the riding of Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, by department or agency, initiative and amount?

Tom Lukiwski Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK

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

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

Is that agreed?