House of Commons Hansard #155 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.

Topics

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Georgette Sheridan Liberal Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the pleasure of rising in the House today to present a petition on behalf of some of my constituents who request that Parliament continue to give the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly powers in marketing wheat and barley for export.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Reform

Darrel Stinson Reform Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our hon. colleague, the member for Calgary Southeast, I rise in the House on day 10 to present petitions.

These petitions are being presented on behalf of constituents who wish to halt the early release from prison of Robert Paul Thompson. April 11, 1995 is the date set for the parole hearing.

The petitioners I represent are concerned about making the streets safer for our citizens. They are opposed to the current practice of early release of violent offenders prior to serving the full extent of their sentences.

The petitioners pray that the streets will be made safer for law-abiding citizens and the families of the victims of convicted murderers.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Dan McTeague Liberal Ontario, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege, pursuant to Standing Order 36, of presenting the first of many petitions dealing with the cable industry.

The 114 petitioners represent people from across southern Ontario who are requesting that the federal government immediately launch an investigation by the CRTC into the way in which cable companies have been raising prices inequitably.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

John O'Reilly Liberal Victoria—Haliburton, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is with pleasure that I rise to present a petition with signatures from Beaverton, Fenelon Falls, Woodville and Cannington in the riding of Victoria-Haliburton.

The petition calls on Parliament to oppose any amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which provide for the inclusion of the phrase sexual orientation.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Ian Murray Liberal Lanark—Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present to the House today. The first petition, pursuant to Standing Order 36, is on behalf of 150 constituents who 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 or homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

The second petition is on the same subject matter. Almost 100 constituents are calling on Parliament to oppose any amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which provide for the inclusion of the phrase sexual orientation.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Ian Murray Liberal Lanark—Carleton, ON

My last petition, Mr. Speaker, is from constituents who are very concerned about the increase in youth crime in our country.

The petitioners request that the government review and revise our laws concerning young offenders by empowering the courts to prosecute and punish young lawbreakers who are terrorizing our society by releasing their names and lowering the age limit to allow prosecution to meet the severity of the crime.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB

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

The first petition draws the attention of the House to the fact that Canada's investment climate is forcing its mineral industry to look for new opportunities abroad.

The Canadian Mineral Industry Federation has prepared a 10-point program of action to be addressed by both the mineral industry and the Government of Canada to keep mining in Canada. The petition urges Parliament to take action to increase employment in this sector, promote exploration, rebuild Canada's mineral reserves, sustain mining and keep mining in Canada.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB

The second petition, Mr. Speaker, prays that Parliament ensures that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in this law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or any activity designed to terminate a life.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Murray Calder Liberal Wellington—Grey—Dufferin—Simcoe, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am

presenting four petitions from my constituents from the riding of Wellington-Grey-Dufferin-Simcoe.

The first petition contains 29 signatures and calls on the government to amend the Criminal Code to extend protection to unborn children the same protection enjoyed by born human beings.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Murray Calder Liberal Wellington—Grey—Dufferin—Simcoe, ON

Mr. Speaker, the second petition contains 32 names and calls on the government not to amend the human rights code in relation to the recognition of same sex relations.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Murray Calder Liberal Wellington—Grey—Dufferin—Simcoe, ON

Mr. Speaker, the third petition contains 42 signatures and calls on the government to ensure that the present provisions in the Criminal Code with regard to assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and make no changes to the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Murray Calder Liberal Wellington—Grey—Dufferin—Simcoe, ON

Mr. Speaker, the fourth and final petition contains 100 signatures and asks the House to oppose any legislation that increases child care expenditures or attempts to regulate day care standards at the federal level.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Reform

Ed Harper Reform Simcoe Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present three petitions on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre.

The first is on the issue of euthanasia. The petitioners request that Parliament not sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or of euthanasia.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Reform

Ed Harper Reform Simcoe Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, the second petition requests the Government of Canada not to amend the Human Rights Act to include the phrase sexual orientation.

The petitioners fear that such an inclusion would indicate societal approval of homosexual behaviour. The petitioners believe that the government should not legitimize this behaviour against the clear wishes of the majority.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Reform

Ed Harper Reform Simcoe Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, the final petition is about section 745 of the Criminal Code.

The petitioners request that Parliament repeal section 745 of the Criminal Code so that those convicted of first degree murder will have to serve their full 25-year sentence behind bars.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Reform

Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present four petitions to the House today.

It gives me great pleasure to present the first one on behalf of 1,556 of my constituents who ask Parliament not to pass Bill C-41, with section 718.2 as it is presently and not to include the undefined phrase, sexual orientation, as this does not warrant special consideration in Canadian law.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Reform

Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition. The petitioners pray and request that Parliament recognize the social commitment and dedication of all volunteer firefighters by raising the tax exemption from $500 to $1,000.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Reform

Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, the third petition comes from 275 people in my constituency, who ask Parliament to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Criminal Code to allow dangerous offender applications to be made just prior to the expiration of the offender's sentence. Then if the court accepts the application, the court could issue an order for continued detention or supervision of the offender.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Reform

Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, the last petition I would like to present today on behalf of my constituents asks Parliament to reduce government spending instead of increasing taxes and to implement a taxpayer protection act to limit federal government spending.

Points Of OrderRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Paul Marchand Bloc Québec-Est, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have a point of order concerning questions that are placed on the Order Paper.

This is the third time I have risen in the House to ask the status of the answer to question 93 which I posed last October 19. Normally these questions must be responded to by the government within 45 days. It is now 122 days.

This is a flagrant show of disrespect for the rules of the House. I have stood in the House three times to ask for an answer to my question. "Maybe next week some time" I am going to get an answer to Question 93.

Is there a way to ask the Speaker of the House to force or to at least demand that the government respect the rules and give me the answer to Question 93, which is way overdue.

Points Of OrderRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. parliamentary secretary might deal with the hon. member's representations when he makes his statement.

Points Of OrderRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I intend to do exactly that. This is the third time the hon. member has got up in the last seven or eight days on this particular question.

I pointed out to him on the first occasion that when he looks at the question, and he knows this perfectly well because he wrote it, he has asked for a list that must be quite substantial.

The question asked what contracts for services, supplies and leasing have been awarded by Public Works and Government Services since October 25, 1993 in all federal constituencies in Quebec and what federal government properties are located in those same constituencies? It will be an extremely substantial list.

In providing an answer to the hon. member, the government wants to make sure it is accurate. I have no doubt great pains are being taken to ensure a full, accurate response will be given to the member.

The hon. member has asked for an answer within 45 days. It is impossible to prepare such a lengthy reply in that time and he knows that. We are doing our best to get the answer. I assure him I am working on getting an answer for his question. I will continue to work to get an answer for his question. I hope to be in a position to table that answer soon.

In the meantime, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

Points Of OrderRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Shall all the questions be allowed to stand? The hon. member for Québec-Est will probably not agree.

Points Of OrderRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Paul Marchand Bloc Québec-Est, QC

Mr. Speaker, no, I do not agree. The parliamentary secretary spoke of 45 adays, but it has now been 122 days, not 45.

Points Of OrderRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Shall the remaining questions be allowed to stand?