Debates of Oct. 24th, 1994

United Nations Day

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the House for permitting me to respond. I will be very brief.

I would like to join other hon. members in commemorating United Nations Day and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

[English]

On behalf of my colleagues in the New Democratic Party, I join in paying tribute today particularly to those Canadian men and women who have done so much to strengthen and build the United Nations.

Our peacekeepers around the world-and Canada has played a leading role in peacekeeping-have obviously made Canadians very proud, as well as other Canadian men and women who are active within the United Nations structure.

We certainly join with the Minister of Foreign Affairs in urging significant reform of the United Nations. The concept of a standing army that is able to respond at short notice is one that we welcome. As well we believe there should be far more focus on preventive diplomacy, on the opportunity to prevent crises from developing into national and in some cases international tragedies.

We also support the concept certainly of an international tribunal to judge war criminals, to bring to justice those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Finally I want to say that we in this party strongly support the concept of broadening the base of the United Nations to encompass a United Nations parliamentary assembly. While we recognize that this is a step that may take some time to develop, certainly we want to encourage the foreign minister in the actions that he is taking to develop support for this concept both in Canada and globally.

In closing, once again I want to join in congratulating those involved both in Canada, NGOs in Canada who support the United Nations, and globally-

Congratulations to everyone on this 50th anniversary of the United Nations and United Nations Day.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-56, an act to amend the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

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

Petitions

[Ian McClelland, Reform, Edmonton Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today and present this petition on behalf of citizens from coast to coast who are calling for changes to the Young Offenders Act.

They want an act serious enough to deter young people from committing crime and tough enough to provide real justice.

There are many Canadians from coast to coast who feel that the Young Offenders Act does not meet its objectives and in some instances actually contributes to an increase in crime by weakening penalties against delinquents and does not deal with repeat offenders in a strong fashion.

I have the pleasure of presenting this petition on behalf 284 petitioners.

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition which is signed by hundreds of petitioners from across Canada, and in particular from my own constituency of Burnaby-Kingsway, from Port Moody, from Kamloops and a number of other jurisdictions.

The petitioners draw to the attention of the House the fact that the current Criminal Code denies people who are suffering from terminal or irreversible and debilitating illness the right to choose freely and voluntarily to end their lives with the assistance of a physician.

Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to ensure the right of all Canadians to die with dignity by allowing people with terminal or irreversible and debilitating illness the right to the assistance of a physician in ending their lives at the time of their choice and subject to strict safeguards to prevent abuse and ensure that the decision is free, informed, competent and voluntarily.

[Sharon Hayes, Reform, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions today from people in my area.

The first is signed by 40 petitioners from New Westminster, Burnaby and the lower mainland. They join with many Canadians who are greatly concerned over the stated government agenda in amending the Canadian Human Rights Act.

They request 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 prohibitive grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Sharon Hayes, Reform, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is signed by 131 residents of communities in my area.

They present this petition in memory of Dawn Shaw. For their sake I would like to go over some of the things they have mentioned. They are concerned that the present justice system fails to protect the children of our communities who are increasingly becoming victims of sexual assault. Judges should not be allowed to drop sexual assault charges because of a delay in bringing a case to trial. Jail sentences for sexual assault offenders should be lengthened for any person convicted of sexual assault.

Community interests should be protected by permitting police to take DNA samples from persons suspected of sexual assault. Sexual offenders should undergo monitoring by police. Pedophiles and sexual offenders should be required to register with police in their community of residence and the police be required to contact schools and agencies.

In memory of Dawn Shaw they request that Parliament enact legislation to change the justice system to provide greater protection for children from sexual assault and to assure conviction of those offenders.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today.

One is from several hundred constituents mostly from the western end of my riding near Sault Ste. Marie, Echo Bay and Desbarats. They wish to make the public aware of their deeply held concerns over the subject of same sex legislation.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is from several dozen constituents from the Elliot Lake area of my riding who wish Parliament to be aware of their deep concerns over the subject of assisted suicide.

[Charlie Penson, Reform, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have before me four petitions that have been signed by 1,101 people in my riding of Peace River. These petitions deal with the subject of extending privileges to same sex couples.

The petitioners request 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 for same sex relationships or homosexuality.

They also ask that the human rights code not be amended to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

I share the views of these petitioners.

[Jake Hoeppner, Reform, Lisgar—Marquette, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Canadian Police Association I am pleased to submit a petition with 356 signatures. These petitioners from Manitoba call on the House of Commons to repeal section 745 of the Criminal Code of Canada to ensure that convicted murderers sentenced to life imprisonment of 25 years not be able to apply for parole review after serving only 15 years of their sentence.

I wholeheartedly support these petitioners.

[Jim Hart, Reform, Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from residents in Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt who continue to be concerned about the suggestion of increased legislation for firearms owners.

The petitioners point out that current legislation regulates the acquisition and possession of firearms through a complex, expensive and rigorous regulatory scheme and the petitioners are opposed to further legislation for firearms acquisition and possession. They call on government to provide strict guidelines and mandatory sentencing for the use or possession of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

I concur with my petitioners.

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present two petitions on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre. The petitioners request that current laws regarding active euthanasia be enforced.

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition requests that the Government of Canada not amend the Human Rights Act to include the phrase sexual orientation. The petitioners are concerned about including the undefined phrase sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act. Refusing to define the statement leaves interpretation open to the courts, a very dangerous precedent to set.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today and I am glad you waited for me to the last.

I have the privilege of presenting a petition signed by 174 of my constituents. Their concern has led them to sign a statement which says that the majority of Canadians believe that same sex couples should not receive the same privileges as heterosexual couples. I share their belief that all Canadians are already protected under the current human rights code and that including the undefined phrase sexual orientation is both unnecessary and unwise.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I also have the privilege of presenting a petition signed by 101 of my constituents regarding the issue of abortion and now that an abortion clinic is opening across the street from Parliament the issue is receiving new life and I think a new profile once again.

My constituents request that Parliament act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child.

I share their concern that there is currently no Canadian law that addresses this serious issue.

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition on behalf of a number of residents of Logan Lake and a number of surrounding communities that point out that Canada's mining industry is the mainstay of employment in over 150 communities across Canada.

They point out that the Canadian Mineral Industry Federation has proposed a 10-point plan of action to be addressed by both the mineral industry and the Government of Canada to keep mining in Canada.

Therefore, they call upon Parliament to take action that will generate employment in the mining sector, promote exploration, rebuild Canada's mineral reserves, sustain mining communities and keep mining in Canada.

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

On another matter, Mr. Speaker, again petitioners mainly from Kamloops and surrounding communities ask Parliament to ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no change in the law that would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

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

[Ian McClelland, Reform, Edmonton Southwest, AB]

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I would ask the parliamentary secretary to the House leader if he would be good enough to respond to Question No. 54 on the Order Paper dated May 10. It is my understanding that such questions are to be responded to within 45 days.

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the hon. member did star his question. Therefore, a response is required within 45 days.

In the particular case of his question, I have seen the draft response to that question. I was unhappy with the response because the response was a response, but not an answer.

I sent the reply back to the officials concerned and asked that it be improved. A more fulsome answer I think is the word mentioned by the Secretary of State for the Status of Women, and I appreciate her assistance.

I know the hon. member will understand when I say that I sent this question back for a more fulsome reply. When that is forthcoming I will bring it to the House as quickly as possible, and I thank him for raising the matter today.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

Shall all questions stand?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

I wish to inform the House that pursuant to Standing Order 33(2)(b), because of the ministerial statement, Government Orders will be extended by 10 minutes.

The House resumed consideration of the motion