Debates of Oct. 26th, 1994

Petitions

[Yvan Bernier, Bloc, Gaspé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the other three petitions I have concern existing rail links in the Gaspé region. The petition asks the government to impose a one-year moratorium on any rail service cut or abandonment. The population and the petitioners specifically ask the Canadian government to hold public hearings and consultations so that the people can participate in the decision-making process.

I agree with the petitions on both issues, and we await a positive response from the government.

[Hugh Hanrahan, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to present two petitions on behalf of Arlene Carlstrom and Lillian Panylyk, president of St. Nicholas Church in Edmonton.

The two petitions are signed by 189 constituents. These constituents would like to draw the attention of the House to section 241 of the Criminal Code to ensure that Parliament does not repeal or amend section 241, and to ensure that Parliament uphold the Supreme Court of Canada decision of December 30, 1993 to disallow assisted suicide.

It is my pleasure to submit these petitions and to also inform my constituents that I concur with these petitioners.

[Raymond Lavigne, Liberal, Verdun—Saint-Paul, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table in this House a petition signed by more than 2,000 of my constituents, who are asking the government to provide assistance so that construction work can start right away on subsidized housing in the riding of Verdun-Saint-Paul.

The disappearance of local industries has led to an unusually severe job shortage, so that residents cannot all afford decent housing.

Mr. Speaker, I agree completely with this petition which I now present to you.

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order 36 I would like to table a petition on behalf of some members of my constituency.

They ask and pray that Parliament 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.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to table today in this House a petition signed by 393 people in the riding of Verchères and elsewhere in Quebec, specifically the municipalities of Sainte-Julie, Saint-Denis, Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu, Saint-Amable, Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu and Verchères.

Referring to the abolition of universality for the age tax credit, the petitioners feel that the current government has unfairly gone after retirement income.

The petitioners see these measures as fundamentally discriminatory at the fiscal level, since they single out people who have already contributed a great deal to the Canadian economy, so that these people cannot hope to improve their standard of living in the years to come.

The 393 petitioners therefore urge Parliament to reject any measure that would reduce retirement income. Needless to say, I agree with the analysis of the situation in this petition and strongly support my fellow citizens' request.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present several petitions bearing the names of over 5,700 petitioners from Ontario and across Canada.

The petitioners humbly pray and call on Parliament to reduce immigration to the previous level of one-half of 1 per cent of the population or about 150,000 persons per year, with the basic intake of not less than 50 per cent of the total composed of carefully selected skilled workers required by the Canadian economy, and that our refugee acceptance rate be brought in line with the average asylum destination countries.

These petitions were initiated by the Immigration Association of Canada. I support their efforts to address concerns over immigration policy.

[Jim Jordan, Liberal, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions from my riding of Leeds-Grenville.

In the first petition, the signatories are petitioning against any pending legislation which would extend to homosexual couples the same privileges as are extended to heterosexual couples.

The second petition has to do with same sex relationships. They are asking that privileges not be extended to homosexual couples as is currently enjoyed by heterosexual couples.

[Joe Comuzzi, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Nipigon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by many people in my riding of Thunder Bay-Nipigon.

The petitioners claim that the majority of Canadians respect the sanctity of the medical professions in the country, and whereas the majority of Canadians believe that physicians in Canada should be working to save lives rather than end them, they ask and humbly petition that Parliament ensures that the provisions of the Criminal Code be respected with respect to preserving life and have nothing to do with the voluntary termination of life.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of presenting a petition on behalf of my constituents today.

The petitioners wish to bring to the attention of the House that section 745 of the Criminal Code allows convicted murderers to apply for a review after 15 years, even if they were sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for 25 years.

My constituents believe that this contradiction in the code should be eliminated by repealing section 745 of the Criminal Code and I could not agree more.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present two petitions.

The first petition is in relation to sexual orientation. The petitioners from my riding and surrounding areas pray 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.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

The second petition, Mr. Speaker, has to do with the family and specifically with initiatives to compensate or to recognize the value of work in the home.

The petitioners are from northern Ontario and ask Parliament not to forget the family, particularly spouses who work in the home and care for preschool children.

[Roseanne Skoke, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to present to this honourable House three petitions from concerned constituents in my riding of Central Nova.

The first petition prays that Parliament 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. I support their stand with respect to this issue.

[Roseanne Skoke, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

In the second petition, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners pray 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 Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation. I agree with this petition.

[Roseanne Skoke, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

The third petition, Mr. Speaker, 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. I concur with this as well.

[Bernie Collins, Liberal, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions that I wish to present on behalf of residents of Saskatchewan.

The first one has to do with the repeal of section 745.

[Bernie Collins, Liberal, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

I have another petition, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of gun owners of Saskatchewan.

[Bernie Collins, Liberal, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition on behalf of a number of petitioners with regard to the human rights code.

[Bernie Collins, Liberal, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition on behalf of those opposed to assisted suicide. There are a number of petitioners who are making that request.

[Bernie Collins, Liberal, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition in support of human life.

[Bernie Collins, Liberal, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

I have a petition which I support with regard to abortion.

[John Richardson, Liberal, Perth—Wellington—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present six different petitions from the constituents of Perth-Wellington-Waterloo. One containing over 3,000 signatures deals with the continuation of VIA Rail service in my riding. Their wishes were recognized this week by the Minister of Transport.

[John Richardson, Liberal, Perth—Wellington—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition concerns BST, bovine somatotropin, a chemically produced drug that is injected in cows to make them produce milk.

[John Richardson, Liberal, Perth—Wellington—Waterloo, ON]

The third petition, Mr. Speaker, deals with sexual orientation and the human rights act, and I place it on the table.

[John Richardson, Liberal, Perth—Wellington—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the fourth petition is on euthanasia.

[John Richardson, Liberal, Perth—Wellington—Waterloo, ON]

The fifth petition, Mr. Speaker, deals with abortion and I place it on the table.