House of Commons Hansard #148 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was nafta.
Lee Morrison Reform Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK
Mr. Speaker, the final petition has 65 signatures of constituents mostly from the Swift Current area. They are petitioning the House to immediately amend the Criminal Code to extend protection to the unborn child, to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.
Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to present a petition signed by 351 residents of Kingston and the Islands. The petitioners call upon Parliament to reject any reduction of social benefits for seniors in any form, including deindexing or means testing.
Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley East, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition today, mostly signed by members of the Chilliwack Fish and Game Protective Association in my riding. They are concerned that the proposed gun legislation being put forward by the Minister of Justice is excessively bureaucratic, will be extremely costly and they believe will be totally ineffective.
They ask Parliament to reject this legislative proposal and to direct the Minister of Justice to reconsider this approach toward coercive gun control. I agree with their sentiments.
Charlie Penson Reform Peace River, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have before me three petitions today from people in the Peace River riding.
The first one deals with the inclusion of the undefined phrase of sexual orientation in the human rights code. The petitioners request that Parliament not amend the human rights code that would change in any way and indicate society's approval for same sex relationships or homosexuality.
The petitioners feel that the majority of Canadians believe the privileges which society accords to heterosexual couples should not be extended to same sex relationships. I agree with their petition.
Charlie Penson Reform Peace River, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions which have been signed by 148 members in my riding dealing with the subject of doctor assisted suicide and euthanasia.
The petitioners request that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced and that the sanctity of human life be respected. The petitioners also ask that Parliament not repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code in any way and thus protect the most vulnerable members of our community. I concur with them.
John Williams Reform St. Albert, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of 93 Canadians.
The petitioners request that Parliament amend the Divorce Act to include a provision similar to article 611 of the Quebec Civil Code. It states that in no case may the father or mother without serious cause place obstacles between the child and the grandparents and that failing agreement between the parties the modalities of the relations are settled by the court.
They also request an amendment to the Divorce Act that would give a grandparent who is granted access to a child the right to make inquiries and to be given information as to the health, education and welfare of the child.
I am pleased to state that I am happy to endorse the contents of this petition.
Ed Harper Reform Simcoe Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre.
The petitioners request that the Government of Canada not amend the human rights act to include the phrase "sexual orientation". The petitioners are concerned about including the undefined phrase of sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act. Refusing to define the statement leaves interpretation open to the courts, a very dangerous precedent to set. Parliament has a responsibility to Canadians to ensure that legislation cannot be misinterpreted.
Ted White Reform North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of Don Petersen and 27 others.
The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the following. Whereas the majority of Canadians are law-abiding citizens who respect the law; whereas the majority of Canadians respect the sanctity of human life; whereas the majority of Canadians believe that physicians in Canada should be working to save lives, not to end them, 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.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a number of petitions.
First, I have a petition which is signed by residents of a number of communities in British Columbia, including the Fraser Valley. The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the fact that the current Criminal Code denies people who are suffering from terminal or irreversible debilitating illness the right to choose freely and voluntarily to end their lives with the assistance of a physician.
They therefore 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 a time of their choice, subject to strict safeguards to prevent abuse and to ensure that the decision is free, informed, competent and voluntary.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Kingsway, BC
Second, Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition which has been co-ordinated by the Hellenic Canadian Congress of Canada and signed by hundreds of Canadians of Hellenic origin and friends in British Columbia.
The petitioners note that Canada has strong and enduring economic, political and strategic ties with Greece, being its ally during every major conflict in this century. They comment on the historical evidence with respect to Macedonia having been a part of the Greek nation for over 25 centuries that Greece has no claim on the territory of Fyrom. They express concern about Fyrom hostile propaganda campaign against Greece and its hostile constitutional provisions.
Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to refrain from taking any action involving recognition of Fyrom until such time as its government renounces the use of the name Macedonia, removes objectionable language from its constitution, abandons the use of symbols implying territorial expansionism, ceases hostile propaganda against Greece and, finally, adheres fully to the norms and principles of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Kingsway, BC
The third petition, Mr. Speaker, is a petition which calls upon the Parliament of Canada to recognize the absurd waste of money in the Senate of Canada.
It notes that the Senate is not elected and is not accountable to the people of Canada and therefore calls upon Parliament to end this wasteful use of taxpayers' money and abolish the Senate.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Kingsway, BC
My final petition, Mr. Speaker, is one which relates to the issue of the conversion of military jobs and facilities to civilian use. It is signed by a number of British Columbia residents and calls upon Parliament to use 1 per cent or more of the savings produced by the reduction in the Department of National Defence budget for the establishment of a national conversion resource centre and local conversion committees at each Canadian defence facility.
Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
Kingston and the Islands Ontario
Liberal
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 96 and 126 could be made Orders for Returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.
Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
Is it the pleasure of the House that Questions Nos. 96 and 126 be made Orders for Returns?
Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
An hon. member
Agreed.
Question No. 96-
Grant Hill Reform Macleod, AB
For each of the last three years, ( a ) how many times were firearms used in the commission of criminal offences, ( b ) how many charges were laid under section 85 of the Criminal Code in each province, ( c ) how many of those charged with this offence were the legally registered owner of the firearm used in the commission or attempted commission of the crime, ( d ) how many charges were withdrawn, ( e ) how many charges resulted in acquittals, ( f ) how many charges resulted in convictions, and ( g ) what sentences were levied when convictions were registered?
(Return tabled.)
Question No. 126-
Roger Simmons Liberal Burin—St. George's, NL
What action is being taken by the Department of Finance and the Department of National Revenue to resolve the problems associated with the tax assistance for retirement savings TARS program, including the need to improve accountability for the costs and results of the TARS program; the need to review, revise and strengthen the current compliance strategy; and the need for both departments to improve the information provided to Parliament on TARS, as outlined by the Auditor General in his 1994 report?
(Return tabled.)
Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.
Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
Shall the remaining questions stand?
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I would as that the Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers be allowed to stand.
Motion For PapersRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
Shall the Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers be allowed to stand?
The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-47, an act to amend the Department of External Affairs Act and to make related amendments to other acts, as reported (with amendments) from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
John Manley Liberalfor the Minister of Foreign Affairs
moved that Bill C-47, an act to amend the Department of External Affairs Act and to make related amendments to other acts, as amended be concurred in at the report stage.