Maurice Vellacott

[Petitions, February 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition from the other end of the country, Victoria, noting the fact that in our country sex selection is condemned by all of our national parties. The public is against it as well. The petitioners are offended by the fact that people can use an ultrasound to tell the sex of an unborn child and can terminate the pregnancy of that unborn child if it is a girl. They want a change in respect of that and a condemnation of that by all parties in the House.

Mr. Speaker, the last petition is similar, but it also specifically asks for a motion in the House, Motion No. 408, and it condemns sex selection when baby girls are aborted.

[Petitions, February 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to be kind of a pan-Canadian politician, as I think we all desire to be in this place, looking out for the good of all Canadians.

The first petition I present, like one that was previously presented, is with respect to the drunk driving laws. These petitioners from Nova Scotia indicate that the current impaired driving laws are too lenient. They want to see that changed and toughened up so that we have some new mandatory minimum sentences for persons convicted of impaired driving causing death. They want the Criminal Code to be changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death to vehicular manslaughter. They have some other good suggestions in their proposal as well.

It certainly is my privilege to present this good petition from citizens of Nova Scotia.

[Shared Parenting, January 31st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have had a difficult decision to make. I have four items on the order paper, and all of them are of great importance.

One is a democratic reform initiative, two are explicitly pro-life measures, and the one bill I have on the order paper is for the sake of the children. They all deserve to proceed in this place, but regrettably I can only choose one at this time.

I have selected Bill C-560 to move forward to second reading debate in this chamber. It is my bill to amend the Divorce Act to make equal shared parenting a rebuttable presumption in cases of marital breakup involving children.

Aside from proven abuse or neglect, over three-quarters of Canadians want equal shared parenting to be the presumption in our courts when marriages unfortunately break down. Research clearly demonstrates that equal shared parenting is in the best interests of children.

Also, based on conversations I have been a part of, I have good reason to believe that the other three items I have on the order paper will be picked up in due course by other good MPs who have spine and foresight. For that I am also truly grateful.

[Divorce Act, December 6th, 2013]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-560, An Act to amend the Divorce Act (equal parenting) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

Mr. Speaker, I am quite honoured in these few moments to be introducing a private member's bill that would direct the courts in regard to divorce to make equal shared parenting the presumptive arrangement in the best interest of the child, except in proven cases of abuse or neglect.

Fifteen years ago, a joint House-Senate committee presented to Parliament a report entitled “For the Sake of the Children”. That report urged Parliament to amend the Divorce Act to make equal shared parenting the normative determination by courts dealing with situations of divorce involving children. This non-partisan recommendation from that joint House-Senate report was based on compelling research made available to the committee members.

Over the past 15 years, the best research has continued to demonstrate far superior outcomes for children in general when both parents, mom and dad, are actively involved in their children's lives, even if the parents divorce or separate.

Polling from the past several years demonstrates overwhelming support from Canadians for this equal shared parenting. There is in fact slightly more support among women than men for equal parenting. This strong support from almost 80% of Canadians exists across the country, with the strongest regional support coming from Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Canadians claiming to be Liberal and Bloc supporters expressed the strongest endorsement for equal shared parenting, at 80.6% among Liberals and 82.9% among Bloc Québécois supporters, with the NDP and Conservatives just slightly under 80%.

A variety of countries, such as Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Australia, and various U.S. states have implemented equal parenting, joint custody, or shared parenting presumptive legislation, which has resulted in lower court costs, less conflict, and improved social outcomes for the children of divorce.

This bill is one of the most apolitical, non-partisan pieces of legislation introduced in this current Parliament.

I look forward to strong support for this important piece of legislation from all members of Parliament who are committed to the best interests of our children.

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

[Gas Tax Fund, November 22nd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the second installment of our Conservative government's annual $2 billion federal gas tax fund is being made available. Saskatchewan's total allocation this year is now close to $56.1 million.

Canada's gas tax fund provides predictable long-term funding for Canadian municipalities to help them build and revitalize their local infrastructure while creating jobs and long-term prosperity. This money has funded numerous initiatives across Saskatchewan that support water and waste water infrastructure, local roads, public transit, solid waste disposal, community energy systems, and transportation improvements. Projects are chosen locally and prioritized according to the infrastructure needs of each community.

To date, close to $371.9 million has been made available to Saskatchewan under the current gas tax fund. Our government has extended, doubled, indexed, and made permanent the gas tax fund. Thus the fund grows from its current $2 billion per year while providing provinces and municipalities with predictable funding to deliver on local Infrastructure priorities. That is a very good thing.

[Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1, June 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I have been around this place a long time, but I am not clear on this fact. I would have thought the mover of the amendment is required to be here in the House at this time. I await your advice on that.

[Petitions, June 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I have is a very important one as well. These petitioners are reminding us, in view of the fact that we have equal protection and the equal benefit of law in Canada, that at birth or before birth, baby girls are sometimes targeted by sex-selective abortion. That is an affront to the dignity and equality of women and girls.

Sex-selective abortions have denied millions of girls in Canada and throughout the world the chance to be born, merely because they are girls. The petitioners call upon the House to condemn that discrimination against girls through sex-selective abortion and do all it can to prevent sex-selective abortions from being carried out in this country.

[Petitions, June 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. The first is from a number of people in my riding and outside as well.

In view of the cluster munitions bill that is coming up before the Senate, Bill S-10, the petitioners are reminding us that cluster munitions cause great harm to civilians at the time of their use. In view of the fact that the majority of our NATO allies actually signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, they want an amendment of Bill S-10 to close the loopholes to make it clear that no Canadian should ever be involved in the use of cluster munitions at any time, anywhere or for any reason.

They also ask for a mention of the positive obligations Canada has assumed by signing the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Bill S-10.

[Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, June 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal leader is constantly playing divisive politics. The Liberal leader is constantly trying to divide the country by pitting one region against another. The Liberal leader said, "I'd think of wanting to make Quebec a country". The Liberal leader said, “We have 24 Senators in Quebec and there are only 6 for Alberta and British Columbia. That benefits us. To want to abolish it, that’s just demagoguery…” He also said that, "Quebecers are better than the rest of Canada".

The Liberal leader takes potshots at the west and then he comes to the House and pretends to be defending its interests. However, western Canadians know better.

While the Liberal leader is playing divisive politics, our Conservative government is focused on what matters to Canadians: jobs and economic growth. I am pleased to inform the House today that thanks to our strong economic measures, we have created 95,000 net new jobs in the month of May alone. Canada has now created over one million net new jobs since the depth of the global recession in July 2009.

That is commendable, even by opposition standards.

[Petitions, May 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition asking the House of Commons to formally condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex selective pregnancy termination. The petitioners draw to our attention the fact that in Canada ultrasounds are being used to tell the sex of unborn children and parents are choosing to terminate the pregnancy if the unborn child is a girl. They ask all parties to condemn that.

Petitioners point to the fact that 92% of Canadians believe sex selective pregnancy termination should be illegal. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada vehemently opposes sex selection. Millions of girls have been lost through sex selective abortion, creating a global gender imbalance and causing girls to be trafficked into prostitution. Petitioners reiterate that Parliament should condemn this worst form of discrimination against females by condemning sex-selective abortions.