Tom Wappel

[Petitions, June 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I also have a petition signed by residents of my riding in which they pray and request that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

Some have said, incorrectly in my view, that this is a matter of human rights legislation but as we all know every person in Canada has the protection of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the rights stated in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms regardless of what they do or do not do in their bedrooms.

[Petitions, June 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions signed by residents of my constituency, Scarborough West, the first of which deals with the issue of crime prevention and makes the suggestion that one way to help alleviate what seems to be a rash of crime is to protect witnesses who may have evidence that can lead to the apprehension and incarceration of criminals.

In that regard they call upon Parliament to enact a witness protection bill. More specifically, they pray that Parliament enact Bill C-206, which happens to be my bill, at the earliest opportunity so as to provide a statutory foundation for a national witness relocation and protection program.

[Petitions, June 8th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions today. The first one is from some 100 residents of the federal riding of Kamloops who have asked me to present this petition.

The petitioners pray that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Petitions, May 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is also signed by people in Scarborough. It calls upon Parliament not to amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase "sexual orientation".

[Petitions, May 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is also from residents of my riding and surrounding areas and it prays that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Petitions, May 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions. The first petition is signed by well over 700 residents of Scarborough and the surrounding areas of metropolitan Toronto. It deals with the increase in violent crimes in Canada and also with the Young Offenders Act.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to amend the Criminal Code of Canada and the Young Offenders Act to provide heavier penalties for those convicted of violent crime.

I am pleased to note that our government is going to be moving precisely in that vein in June of this year.

[Canada Elections Act, May 27th, 1994]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-252, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act (review of nomination papers).

Mr. Speaker, section 82.1 of the Canada Elections Act requires that each person seeking election have their nomination papers signed by 100 electors resident in the riding in which they seek to be elected.

In the last federal election in Scarborough West there were eight people on the ballot. Four of those people at least had not complied with section 82.1 and had not in fact had their nomination papers signed by 100 electors resident in the riding of Scarborough West. There was absolutely no mechanism to deal with this flagrant abuse of the Canada Elections Act.

Accordingly I have proposed this bill which would amend the Canada Elections Act. It would allow an elector of an electoral district to request the review of a nomination paper when the elector has reasonable grounds to believe that one or more persons who signed the nomination paper are not qualified electors resident in the electoral district. A nomination paper that had not been signed by the required number of electors resident in the electoral district provided for by the Canada Elections Act would be declared invalid.

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

[Petitions, May 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the final petition is also signed by members of my constituency as well as people in adjacent ridings.

It prays and requests that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Petitions, May 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by constituents of my riding and neighbouring areas of the city of Toronto. It prays that Parlia-

ment act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.

[Petitions, May 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions. The first one is signed by members of the community of Kamloops, British Columbia, and brings to the attention of the House that currently there is no national legislated witness protection program or witness relocation program in Canada.

It also brings to the attention of the House that there is currently a private member's bill, votable, Bill C-206, which happens to be my bill.

The petitioners pray that Parliament enact Bill C-206 at the earliest opportunity and provide a statutory foundation for a national witness relocation and protection program.