Debates of May 18th, 2012

Maurice Vellacott Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Madam Speaker, it is a great privilege to present petitions today from several hundred constituents from the Saskatoon—Wanuskewin riding, and a few beyond that as well. These several hundred individuals have taken the time to petition Parliament.

The petitioners state that whereas Canada's 400-year-old definition of a human being says a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, they note the fact that that is contrary to 21st century medical evidence. Therefore, they are calling on the House of Commons to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human, to exclude none. They are asking for the amendment of section 223 of the Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect up-to-date 21st century medical and scientific evidence.

Elizabeth May Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Madam Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions. The first is from residents of parts of Toronto, Sarnia, my own riding of Victoria, and potentially some of your constituents, Madam Speaker.

The petitioners are calling on this House assembled to protect and preserve our national public broadcaster and to ensure stable and predictable funding for the CBC, as not only a revered Canadian institution, but as an essential service in bringing this diverse country together.

Elizabeth May Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Madam Speaker, the second petition is from residents of the province of Alberta. The petition concerns Enbridge's so-called northern gateway project, what one might call the great pipeline of China, a project to put risky supertankers on the shores of British Columbia in the most treacherous waters of the country. The petitioners are calling for full, fair, transparent and unbiased hearings from the current Conservatives in power.

Stella Ambler Mississauga South, ON

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege as the member of Parliament for Mississauga South to present a petition on behalf of my constituents.

My constituents are petitioning Parliament to amend section 223 of the Criminal Code of Canada to recognize every human being as human in law and to reflect the findings of 21st century medical knowledge.

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

Madam Speaker, Question No. 579 will be answered today.

Ted Hsu Kingston and the Islands, ON

With regard to Parks Canada lands: (a) since January 1, 2006, has Parks Canada or the government sold, subdivided, leased, or in any other way alienated or dealt with its holdings of real property on the east side of Little Lake in Peterborough, Ontario; (b) if the answer to (a) is no, has it studied doing so; (c) if the answer to (a) is yes, (i) what was or is the nature of the alienation or dealing which has either been effected or studied, (ii) who are or were the parties to the transaction; and (d) has Parks Canada or the government communicated with any federal or provincial parliamentarians on the subject of the government’s holdings of real property on the east side of Little Lake in Peterborough, Ontario, and, if so, (i) with which parliamentarians, (ii) who sent and who received any such communication, (iii) what were the dates of any such communication, (iv) what are the file or reference numbers of any such communication?

Peter Kent Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), Ssince January 1, 2006, Parks Canada has not sold, subdivided, leased, or in any other way alienated or dealt with its holdings of real property on the east side of Little Lake in Peterborough, Ontario.

With regard to (b), Parks Canada is not considering doing so.

With regard to (c), Ssince the answer to (a) is no, this is not applicable.

With regard to (d), Parks Canada has not communicated with any federal or provincial parliamentarians regarding Government of Canada holdings of real property on the east side of Little Lake in Peterborough, Ontario.

Brian Jean Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

With regard to questions Q-386 through Q-509 on the Order Paper: (a) what is the estimated cost of the government's response to each question; and (b) what is the estimated cost of the government's response to this question?

Wayne Easter Malpeque, PE

With respect to staffing at Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC): (a) how many persons were employed by VAC in Prince Edward Island for the fiscal years 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011, broken down by (i) full-time employees, (ii) part-time employees, (iii) term contract employees, (iv) student contract employees; (b) what is the deployment, broken down by percentage, of VAC staff to (i) departmental headquarters in Ottawa, (ii) departmental headquarters in Charlottetown, (iii) regional offices across Canada, (iv) sub-regional offices across Canada, (v) district offices across Canada; and (c) what was the total remuneration of VAC employees in Prince Edward Island for the same periods listed in (a)?