Debates of Feb. 9th, 1995

Finance

[Doug Peters, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a white paper entitled "Enhancing the Safety and Soundness of the Canadian Financial System".

Order In Council Appointments

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

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table in the House today, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments made recently by the government.

Pursuant to Standing Order 110(1), these are deemed referred to the appropriate standing committees, a list of which is attached.

Government Response To Petitions

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

While I am on my feet I am pleased to table, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), the government's response to 12 petitions.

Broadcasting Act

[Roger Gallaway, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-300, an act to amend the Broadcasting Act (broadcasting policy).

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce this bill to amend the Broadcasting Act.

In recent weeks Canadians have made it clear that they dislike intensely the policy of the CRTC in allowing cable companies to demand payment for channels which they have not ordered or authorized. The CRTC in return has said that this is a necessary evil of introducing new channels.

The bill that I have introduced today will amend the broadcast policy section of the Broadcasting Act to ensure that the CRTC no longer has any discretion in terms of necessary evils such as negative option billing. This will limit the control of cable companies over their customers, something about which Canadians have expressed strong opinions.

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

Petitions

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Madam Speaker, I rise before this House on day four to present petition number four. 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 our 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 our streets will be made safer for our law-abiding citizens and the families of the victims of convicted murderers.

[Garry Breitkreuz, Reform, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Madam Speaker, I have several petitions that I would like to present to the House.

The first petition asks 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.

[Garry Breitkreuz, Reform, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Madam Speaker, the second petition requests that Parliament consider that a very vocal minority of citizens are requesting Parliament to institute a dual marketing system for wheat and barley for export.

Therefore, the petitioners request that Parliament continue to give the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly power in marketing wheat and barley for export.

The third petition is from a similarly small but very vocal group of citizens requesting Parliament to put in place a dual marketing system for the sale of wheat and barley. They also call on Parliament to continue to grant monopoly powers to the Canadian Wheat Board.

[Garry Breitkreuz, Reform, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Madam Speaker, the last petition I have requests that Parliament support laws which will severely punish all violent criminals who use weapons in the commission of a crime and support new Criminal Code firearms control provisions which recognize and protect the right of law-abiding citizens to own and use recreational firearms, and support legislation which will repeal and modify existing gun control laws which have not improved public safety or have proven not to be cost effective or have proven to be overly complex so as to be ineffective and/or unenforceable. The number of names on this one is quite extensive.

[Allan Kerpan, Reform, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre, SK]

Madam Speaker, I am privileged to table in this House today four duly certified petitions on behalf of my constituents of Moose Jaw-Lake Centre.

The first petition is signed by 70 people and asks this Parliament to enforce the present provisions of the Criminal Code respecting assisted suicides and that no changes in the law be contemplated by this Parliament.

[Allan Kerpan, Reform, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre, SK]

Madam Speaker, I would like table the wishes of 30 people who humbly pray that this Parliament not amend the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Allan Kerpan, Reform, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre, SK]

Madam Speaker, I table the concerns of 30 people who ask that this Parliament immediately amend the Criminal Code to extend protection to the unborn child.

[Allan Kerpan, Reform, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre, SK]

Madam Speaker, I would like to table the concerns of 28 people who support and request that Parliament continue to give the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly powers in marketing wheat and barley for export.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough West, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have three petitions to present this morning.

The first is signed by over 100 citizens of Brownsburg, Arundel and Lachute, Quebec. They pray 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 of 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]

Madam Speaker, from the Etobicoke region of metropolitan Toronto, 110 citizens have asked that I present a petition praying 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.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough West, ON]

Madam Speaker, over 200 citizens have asked me to present a petition with respect to the Young Offenders Act, praying that Parliament recognize and address the concerns they have, in particular to amend the Criminal Code of Canada and the Young Offenders Act to provide for heavier penalties for those convicted of violent crimes.

[Len Taylor, NDP, The Battlefords—Meadow Lake, SK]

Madam Speaker, I have the duty and privilege today of presenting a petition pursuant to Standing Order 36, sent to me by Val Lozier of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, signed by residents of Meadow Lake, Green Lake, Loon Lake, Makwa, Dorintosh and Rapid View, all communities in the Battlefords-Meadow Lake constituency.

The petitioners note that the majority of Canadians believe that physicians in Canada should be working to save lives, not end them. Therefore, the petitioners pray that Parliament ensure that present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present today. The first has 830 signatures from constituents in my riding of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt.

The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that the rights and authority of parents over their children have been eroded by legislation and other acts of the Government of Canada, as well as the interpretation of these laws by the courts and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to return to parents, teachers and people in authority the right to exercise judicious control over the actions of children and protect the rights of people in authority to use reasonable force to modify the behaviour of children as currently set out in the Criminal Code of Canada, section 43.

They are also calling for amendments to the Young Offenders Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other acts that may apply to reinstitute the authority of law enforcement officers in dealing with children or minors.

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

Madam Speaker, the second petition adds again to the growing number of people from Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt who are opposed to any additional gun legislation. With this petition there are 1,356 people who now call on Parliament to oppose any further legislation for firearms acquisition and possession and to provide strict guidelines and mandatory sentencing for use or possession of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

The people of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt feel that we have a crime problem, not a gun problem. I agree.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

I think it is time to remind members that when they are presenting petitions, adding to the prayer of the petition is considered debate. I would ask members to keep their interventions short. Even saying you agree with your petitioners is participating in debate.

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 36 I would like to present this petition from the residents of my constituency of Athabasca.

The petitioners request that Parliament not amend 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 Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase "sexual orientation".

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

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition pursuant to Standing Order 36. The petitioners call upon Parliament to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK]

Madam Speaker, it is my honour pursuant to Standing Order 36 to table three duly certified petitions from constituents of mine.

The first one is signed by 61 residents primarily of the Assiniboia and Rockglen districts. It calls upon Parliament not to enact any further firearms control legislation, regulations or orders in council.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK]

Madam Speaker, the second and third petitions are identical in content. One has 53 signatures from the Swift Current and Maple Creek districts, calling upon Parliament to ensure that the 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.

The wording of the third petition is identical, also calling upon Parliament not to sanction assisted suicide. It has 32 signatures from the Coronach area.

[Cliff Breitkreuz, Reform, Yellowhead, AB]

Madam Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 36 I rise to present several petitions signed by constituents of my riding of Yellowhead.

The first petition asks that Parliament not amend the human rights code or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would indicate societal approval of same sex relationships.

[Cliff Breitkreuz, Reform, Yellowhead, AB]

Madam Speaker, the second petition prays that Parliament extend the same protection to the unborn child as that enjoyed by born human beings.