Debates of Nov. 23rd, 1994

Committees Of The House

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food which deals with Bill C-51, an act to amend the Canada Grain Act. It is reported with no amendments.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 50th report of the Standing

Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the list of associate members of committees.

With leave of the House, I intend to move for concurrence in the report later this day.

Equal Treatment For Persons Cohabiting In A Relationship Similar To A Conjugal Relationship Act

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-290, an act providing for equal treatment for persons cohabiting in a relationship similar to a conjugal relationship.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Rimouski-Témiscouata. You will understand that I am proud to introduce today a bill which, if it is passed, will end a more than secular type of discrimination by amending 40 acts, so as to formally recognize legal equality for same sex spouses. I do hope that the House will support this legislation.

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

Committees Of The House

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

Mr. Speaker, I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That six members, three staff and three interpreters from the Standing Committee on Transport be allowed to hold informal hearings in relation to the committee's airport study in Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary and Winnipeg from November 27 to December 2, 1994.

(Motion agreed to.)

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

Mr. Speaker, I have another motion:

That the date December 2, 1994 in the motion approved by the House on September 28, 1994 authorizing the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to travel to Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver be replaced with December 4, 1994.

(Motion agreed to.)

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

Mr. Speaker, we are on a roll today. I move that the 50th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)

Petitions

[Ben Serré, Liberal, Timiskaming—French-River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to present to the House a petition signed by 1,152 Canadians from across Ontario.

The petition addresses the serious decline we have experienced in our ore reserve in the mining industry. The group Keep Mining in Canada has developed a 10-point plan to address this concern.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to take action that will create employment in this sector, promote exploration, rebuild Canada's mineral reserves, sustain mining communities and most of all keep mining in Canada.

I congratulate this group for its initiative and I totally support its objectives.

[Peter Thalheimer, Liberal, Timmins—Chapleau, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today pursuant to Standing Order 36 to draw to the attention of this House that mining is an important industry to Canada. Over 150 communities in every province and territory contribute to Canada's export to the tune of over $20 billion a year. Canada is an important mining country and hundreds of thousands of Canadians depend on a healthy investment climate to continue with this important industry.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to take action to improve the climate, increase reserves, preserve our communities and keep mining in Canada. I support the petition and the 358 Canadians who have signed it.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I would like to table a petition on behalf of the residents of Bruce-Grey.

The petitioners 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 Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the

prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions today.

The first petition is signed by approximately 800 residents of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. It 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.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I have is signed by various residents of the municipality of metropolitan Toronto.

The petitioners believe there has been a rise in violent young offender crime. They pray and request that Parliament recognize and address the concerns of the petitioners and that Parliament amend the Criminal Code of Canada and the Young Offenders Act to provide for heavier penalties for those convicted of violent crime.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is signed by residents of communities in Ontario such as Perth, Smiths Falls, Lanark, Fallbrook, Almonte and other communities in the area.

The petitioners 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 Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have a petition today signed by residents of Okanagan Falls in my riding. People from Calgary, Grande Prairie and Slave Lake, Alberta, as well as several other communities in western Canada, have also signed the petition.

The petitioners are opposed to further legislation for firearms acquisition and possession. They are asking Parliament to provide strict guidelines and mandatory sentencing for use or possession of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

I would like to mention that thousands of people are adding their names to this petition which is being circulated in western Canada. To date I have delivered 829 names to the House. I concur with the petitioners.

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present and table with the House petitions asking 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 euthanasia or doctor assisted suicide.

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the petitioners ask 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 of sexual orientation.

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present a petition from the people in my riding of Prince George-Bulkley Valley.

The petition deals with section 241 of the Criminal Code. The petitioners pray that Parliament not repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code in any way and upholds the Supreme Court of Canada's decision of September 30, 1993 to disallow assisted suicide and euthanasia.

I would like to add that I personally support the petition.

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

In the second petition, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the human rights code or the Canadian Human Rights Act 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 of sexual orientation.

The petition is signed by constituents of Prince George-Bulkley Valley. Once again, I personally support the petition.

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present on behalf of my constituents of Egmont. These petitions are very similar to others presented today.

In the first petition, the petitioners 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.

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, in the second petition, the petitioners humbly 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.

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

In the last petition, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way that would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibitive grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present quite a few petitions under Standing Order 36 dealing with the whole question of euthanasia.

Constituents from all parts of Haldimand-Norfolk pray that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I also have the pleasure to present to the House a petition from constituents from Haldimand-Norfolk regarding the whole question of same sex relationships.

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

In the last petition, Mr. Speaker, the constituents of Haldimand-Norfolk ask the government 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.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition organized and collected by a large number of young Canadians in the riding of Scarborough-Rouge River.

It calls upon Parliament to act in such a way as to prohibit the importation, distribution, sale and manufacture of the cards known as killer cards or killer trading cards.

[Jim Abbott, Reform, Kootenay East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present. The first one is that the justice minister is proposing unfair anti-gun legislation. It will do little if anything to reduce the incidence of violent crime in Canada, but will simply restrict or eliminate entirely the rights of honest law-abiding hunters and target shooters.

I would like the petitioners to know that I agree with their point of view.