Debates of Dec. 15th, 1994

The Environment

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

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I hereby submit to Parliament, through your good offices, the final report of the task force on economic instruments and disincentives to sound environmental practices.

Human Resources

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to submit two copies, in both official languages, of the document entitled "Canadian Positions with Respect to Conventions and Recommendations" adopted at the 79th and 80th sessions of the International Labour Conference in Geneva in June 1992 and June 1993.

The report is to be referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development.

Canarctic Shipping

[Joe Fontana, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 1993 annual report of the Canarctic Shipping Company Ltd.

Government Response To Petitions

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

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 38 petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[George Proud, Liberal, Hillsborough, PE]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association concerning the North Atlantic Assembly annual session which was held in Washington, D.C., from October 14 to 18, 1994.

Committees Of The House

[René Canuel, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources relating to our review of the mining industry.

I wish to thank those who testified before or submitted briefs to the committee. By their input, they have made a significant contribution to our work.

[Bernard Deshaies, Bloc, Abitibi, QC]

Madam Speaker, the members of the Bloc Quebecois who sit on the committee welcome the recommendations contained in the report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources concerning mining development. However, the Bloc Quebecois saw fit to append a dissenting report to make sure that these recommendations do not promote federal interference in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction, particularly with respect to costly duplication and overlap between actions taken by each level of government.

Finally, Bloc members want the Minister of Natural Resources to make sure that the implementation of the tax measures described in these recommendations will benefit the mining industry and that appropriate control measures will be put in place so that there is no loophole, in the interest of the national Treasury and the continued credibility of the mining industry.

Western Grain Transportation Act

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-66, an act to amend the Western Grain Transportation Act.

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

Veterans Review And Appeal Board Act

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, for the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-67, an act to establish the veterans review and appeal board, to amend the Pension Act, to make consequential amendments to other acts and to repeal the Veterans Appeal Board Act.

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

Canada Pension Plan Act

[Janko Peric, Liberal, Cambridge, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-299, an act to amend the Canada pension plan (increased contributions and pension).

Madam Speaker, I have the pleasure to table a private member's bill which aims to improve the Canada pension plan.

The amendments to the Canada pension plan which I am proposing will cause the plan to grow significantly in contributions and benefits. The expanded plan will eventually result in a more adequate retirement pension for all Canadians and will reduce the need for private pensions and retirement savings plans.

The Canada pension plan would then provide an adequate and fully portable pension for all Canadians.

I hope that all members will support this initiative.

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

Committees Of The House

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I move that 15 members, three interpreters and three members of the staff of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food be authorized to hold meetings on the future of Canadian agriculture in Saint-Hyacinthe, Victoriaville, Quebec City, Forestville, Halifax and Charlottetown from January 22 to 28, 1995, and in Kelowna, Kamloops, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, London, St. Catharines, Brockville and Alfred, from February 5 to 15, 1995.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

Is there unanimous consent to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

There is not unanimous consent.

Petitions

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Rosedale, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have the pleasure to present to the House a petition which prays that this House will speedily recognize the need to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The petition is signed by over 90 Canadians. I am pleased to support this petition.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition which was collected and prepared by students of St. Anne's School in Peterborough. It reads:

"We the undersigned citizens and children of the province of Ontario draw the attention of the House of Commons and the Minister of Justice to the following: That criminals do not fear the law as much as we the citizens and children fear for our safety because of recent crime involving guns. We wish that the federal government enact more severe penalties for the perpetrators of crimes involving the use of firearms. We believe in crime control as well as gun control".

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have another petition which is signed by more than 120 people of the Peterborough area which reads:

"We the undersigned residents of Canada draw the attention of the House to the following: Whereas babies and young children lack the ability to defend themselves against abusers; and whereas thousands of innocent, vulnerable, defenceless children every year fall victim to sexual abuse, serious physical and psychological harm, maiming and death; and whereas child abusers must be dealt with harshly by the criminal justice system, your petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to ensure stiffer sentences and mandatory treatment for all child abusers".

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have a third petition which is from more than 125 citizens of Peterborough and the surrounding area.

The petitioners point out that at the time of the extradition of Lakota-Chippewa native American Leonard Peltier from Canada to the United States, the information provided surrounding Mr. Peltier's case was fabricated by the U.S. authorities. Since that time new information has emerged which indicates that Leonard Peltier was not guilty of the crime for which he has spent the last 18 years in prison. Therefore the petitioners request that Parliament hold an external review of the 1976 extradition hearing and that he be brought back to Canada for asylum.

[George S. Rideout, Liberal, Moncton, NB]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions pursuant to Standing Order 36.

The first petition deals with the prayer in Parliament.

[George S. Rideout, Liberal, Moncton, NB]

Madam Speaker, the second petition deals with assisted suicides.

It is a pleasure to present both of these petitions.

[Jim Gouk, Reform, Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by residents of Canada.

They point out that Canadian citizens support lawful and responsible use of firearms and ammunition, that many Canadians oppose laws to put more restrictions on the prohibition of legal firearms ownership rather than addressing violent criminal misuse of firearms.

The 1993 Auditor General's report indicates that many firearms regulations were brought in as a matter of public policy with no regard to further effectiveness or potential benefit.

The petitioners call on Parliament not to enact any further firearms control legislation, regulations or orders in council. The petition is signed by 277 residents of Kootenay West-Revelstoke. I highly concur with this petition.

[Audrey McLaughlin, NDP, Yukon, YT]

Madam Speaker, I have a number of signatures from petitioners in the Yukon.

They note that Canada's mining industry is the mainstay of employment in over 150 communities across Canada. They therefore call on the Parliament of Canada to take action that will grow employment in this sector, promote exploration, rebuild Canada's mineral reserves, sustain mining communities and keep mining in Canada. In addition they request that the Canadian Industry Mineral Federation which has proposed a 10-point plan be supported by the Government of Canada.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I would like to present a petition signed by several people from Saint Paul, Alberta in the heart of my constituency of Beaver River.

They are saying that grandparents as a consequence of death, separation or divorce of their children are often denied access to their grandchildren. The relationship which exists between grandparents and grandchildren is very natural, fundamental and certainly a special one.

These petitioners are requesting that Parliament amend the Divorce Act to include a provision similar to section 611 in the Quebec civil code which states: "In no case may a father or mother without serious cause place obstacles between the child and grandparents. Failing agreement between the parties, the modalities of the relations are settled by the court".

They are asking that they be allowed to go to court to settle these matters.

Madam Speaker, I wish you a Merry Christmas.

[John Duncan, Reform, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise to present two petitions.

One is on behalf of 149 of my constituents from the riding of North Island-Powell River requesting that Parliament not amend the human rights code that would indicate societal approval of same sex relationships.

[John Duncan, Reform, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Madam Speaker, the other petition signed by 33 of my constituents requests that Parliament not repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code and therefore will uphold the current law disallowing euthanasia. I personally concur with these petitioners.