Debates of Dec. 7th, 1994

Petitions

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Madam Speaker, I would like to put forth the following petitions. The first petition is from people in my riding of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca requesting that Parliament refuse to accept the justice minister's anti-firearms proposals. They insist that he bring forth legislation to convict and punish criminals rather than persecute the innocent. I concur with that.

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

The second petition is from people in my riding of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. They request that Parliament ensure that the present provisions in 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, which I would like to say I do not concur with.

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

The next petition relates to enacting legislation providing for a referendum of the people binding upon Parliament to accept or reject two official languages, English and French, for the government and people of Canada. The acceptance or rejection of the proposed amendments would be determined by number one, a majority vote of the total votes cast in the whole of Canada together with two, a majority vote in a majority of provinces with the territories being given the status of one province. I concur with this petition.

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

The last two petitions I will put together. They are from constituents of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca.

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 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.

I concur with these two petitions.

[Alex Shepherd, Liberal, Durham, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition to present today from 227 members of my riding.

Basically the petition prays and requests that Parliament not amend the 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 homosexuality, including amending the Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, London West, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have two petitions to present to the House today.

The first is a petition from members of my constituency against euthanasia and doctor assisted suicide.

I have not made a decision personally on this matter and will continue to present both sides of the issue.

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, London West, ON]

The second petition in part asks for amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. I strongly agree with this.

[Colleen Beaumier, Liberal, Brampton, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to table a petition with the signatures of 668 of my constituents. It calls on the government to introduce legislation which will ensure the post-sentence detention of child sex offenders who are likely to reoffend upon release. This brings the total number of signatures I have tabled in the House calling for such legislation to 6,840.

Canadians are concerned about the safety of their children. It is time we introduced legislation which responds to this very real fear.

[Colleen Beaumier, Liberal, Brampton, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am also tabling a petition from residents of Brampton South which calls on the government to take action with respect to excessive noise caused by aircraft using runway 24R at Pearson International Airport.

These residents have suffered a great deal because of the noise and are asking that the necessary changes be implemented so that it stops immediately.

[Colleen Beaumier, Liberal, Brampton, ON]

I have a third petition to present in support of compensating spouses working in the home and caring for preschool children.

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

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present two petitions from my constituency of Prince George-Bulkley Valley and specifically the town of Vanderhoof, B.C.

The petitioners 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.

I am pleased to say that I personally support both of these petitions.

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

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I rise today to present 203 signatures not only of people from Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt but of like minded people from all across B.C. including North Vancouver, Langley, Surrey and Burnaby.

The petitioners are opposing the anti-firearms legislation that the justice minister is pursuing. Therefore the petitioners request that Parliament refuse to accept Mr. Rock's anti-firearms proposal and insist that he bring forth legislation-

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

I would ask that the member not use the minister's name but refer to him as the Minister of Justice.

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

I apologize, Madam Speaker. The petitioners request that Parliament refuse to accept the justice minister's anti-firearms proposal and insist that he bring forward legislation to convict and punish criminals, rather than persecute innocent law-abiding citizens. I agree with my petitioners.

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Rosedale, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be able to present a petition signed by 210 citizens of my riding and elsewhere in Canada praying that Parliament amend the human rights code to include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination.

[Morris Bodnar, Liberal, Saskatoon—Dundurn, SK]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions that are identical that oppose euthanasia and doctor assisted suicide, both of which I endorse.

[Morris Bodnar, Liberal, Saskatoon—Dundurn, SK]

Madam Speaker, another petition asks that Parliament expand further the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly powers to include all grains and oilseeds, and a petition that strongly supports the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly powers in marketing wheat and barley for export.

[Morris Bodnar, Liberal, Saskatoon—Dundurn, SK]

Madam Speaker, I have another petition from constituents of Saskatoon-Dundurn wherein they ask that the unborn child's rights be protected by Parliament.

[Morris Bodnar, Liberal, Saskatoon—Dundurn, SK]

Madam Speaker, this final petition opposes the amendment of the Canadian Human Rights Act to include the words sexual orientation, a term that is undefined.

[John Bryden, Liberal, Hamilton—Wentworth, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise to present a petition calling on Parliament not to amend the human rights code, 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.

Questions On The Order Paper

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

Madam Speaker, would you be so kind as to call starred question No. 54.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

Starred question No. 54.

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

Madam Speaker, I would ask that the answer to starred question No. 54 be printed in Hansard as if read due to its length.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 54-