Debates of June 21st, 1994

Petitions

[John O'Reilly, Liberal, Victoria—Haliburton, ON]

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have a number of petitions to present today, all duly certified by the Clerk of Petitions.

The first one requests Parliament to not approve same sex relationships.

[John O'Reilly, Liberal, Victoria—Haliburton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the next three petitions with 350 names from my riding of Victoria-Haliburton in Ontario call on Parliament to ban the sale and importation of killer cards into Canada.

[John O'Reilly, Liberal, Victoria—Haliburton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition requesting Parliament to maintain the present exemption on the excise portion of ethanol for a decade, allowing for a strong and self-sufficient ethanol industry.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my esteemed colleague for Okanagan-Shuswap I have four petitions to present today.

This first one asks that this House not recognize same sex couples or make changes to the human rights code regarding the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the next two petitions ask for the same protection in the Criminal Code for unborn humans that is enjoyed by born humans.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the last petition asks for the mandatory DNA analysis in the Criminal Code.

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order 36, I want to present a petition from a number of people in my riding calling on this House not to amend the human rights code.

[Cliff Breitkreuz, Reform, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant Standing Order 36, I rise today to present three petitions calling upon the federal government to revise the Young Offenders Act.

The petition is signed by approximately one thousand residents in the Yellowhead riding and wants the Young Offenders Act to ensure that those convicted under the act must be subjected to punishment which fits the severity of the crime.

I strongly support the contents of this petition and the petitioners' belief that a strong Young Offenders Act will result in fewer incidents of criminal offences.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions.

In May the Toronto Archdiocese and Council of the Catholic Women's League held its 73rd annual meeting and circulated a petition which was signed by 458 persons. It has asked me to present it here.

It prays 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 Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition from mid-Toronto signed by approximately 100 people which prays that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicides 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.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by people in the St. Catharines and Niagara region which talks about the need for the protection of witnesses and for further enforcement of the Criminal Code. These petitioners ask that those people who are victimized by criminals be protected specifically.

They therefore pray that Parliament enact Bill C-206, which is a bill I have put forward, at the earliest opportunity so as to provide a statutory foundation for a national witness relocation and protection program.

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure this morning to present a petition pursuant to Standing Order 36 which calls for the repealing of Bill C-91.

Bill C-91, the drug patent legislation was passed in the last session. These petitioners feel that this bill was inappropriate for two reasons: first, it is has driven up the cost of prescription drugs to Canadians consumers, in some cases by over 100 per cent; second, it has put in jeopardy the prescription drug programs that some governments sponsor to assist citizens in their respective provinces.

These petitioners come from many parts of Saskatchewan including Saskatoon, Lanigan, Leroy, Watson, Winyard, Kindersley, Kyle, Lucky Lake, White City, Herschel, Dinsmore, Bursey and Rosetown.

[Rex Crawford, Liberal, Kent, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present two petitions on behalf of my constituents pursuant to Standing Order 36. The petition is signed by hundreds of my constituents of Kent, bringing the total over the last few months to over 10,000 names.

The petitioners urge the government to support a domestic ethanol industry in light of the fact that a $170 million plant for Chatham is in jeopardy without federal involvement. Legislative support of ethanol is Liberal policy. The petitioners want it to become government policy.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present three petitions from residents of the Houston, B.C. area of my constituency, petitioners which I personally support in the strongest terms.

These petitioners are concerned about section 241 of the Canada Criminal Code which states "everyone who counsels a person to commit suicide or aids and abets a person to committee suicide whether suicide ensues or not is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment of a term not exceeding 14 years".

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

[Harold Culbert, Liberal, Carleton—Charlotte, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by a number of my constituents and duly approved by the Clerk of Petitions.

The petitioners pray and request Parliament to not 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, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibitive grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition which is signed by hundreds of residents of provinces across Canada which draws 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 subject to strict safeguards to prevent abuse and to ensure that the decision is free, informed, competent and voluntary.

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today signed by my constituents.

In the first petition the citizens express their disapproval to the government regarding any privileges extended to same sex relationships. In the second petition the citizens express their sentiments and great concern with respect to the aiding or abetting of suicide, active or passive euthanasia.

Therefore the petitioners humbly pray and 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 and that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have three different petitions to present this morning.

The first petition calls on the government to retain existing laws that prohibit the aiding and abetting of suicide and euthanasia. Many of my constituents have signed these petitions which state: "Physician in Canada should be working to save lives, not to end them".

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

The second petition calls on the government not to amend the Human Rights Code or any other legislation which would "indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or homosexuality". They are particularly concerned about the lack of definition of the phrase sexual orientation.

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

The last petition is on protection for the unborn. The petitioners call on the House to 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 would like to add that I concur with all three petitions.

[Gordon Kirkby, Liberal, Prince Albert—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to rise pursuant to Standing Order 36 on behalf of 84 constituents to present a petition regarding doctor assisted suicide in Canada. The petitioners call upon the government to maintain the provisions of the Criminal Code which prohibit euthanasia in Canada.

[Ivan Grose, Liberal, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition on behalf of the people of southern Ontario pursuant to Standing Order 36. This petition brings the total number of names over the past few months to over 10,000, an incredible show of support for this program.

They urge the government to support a domestic ethanol industry. Inasmuch as my constituents are the people who manufacture the vehicles to use this fuel, I think it indicates the broad base support for this program.

[Pat O'Brien, Liberal, London—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of a number of Ontarians, some of whom are my constituents. These petitioners pray that Parliament act to extend protection to the unborn child on the same basis as there is protection to born human beings.

Questions On The Order Paper

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

Mr. Speaker, Question No. 36 will be answered today.

Question No. 36-

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

With respect to the electoral observer's trip to South Africa on April 17, 1994 sponsored by the foreign affairs department, ( a ) who attended, ( b ) what was the cost by person and ( c ) what was the total cost?