Debates of March 13th, 1995

Petitions

[Ronald J. Duhamel, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, these petitioners recognize that the majority of Canadians respect the sanctity of life. They want the government to prohibit assisted suicide. They do not want the law to be amended in any way to make suicide legal.

[Ronald J. Duhamel, Liberal, St. Boniface, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present another petition in which the petitioners point out that unnecessary violence and abuse of all forms, be it verbal, physical or other, in society in general, on radio or on television has become a serious problem. They point out that it is neither necessary to inform nor to entertain.

The petitioners want government to ensure the CRTC controls these kinds of abuse and violence. They applaud some of the initiatives taken recently to modify and reduce abuse and violence on radio and television.

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of over 70 senior citizens from the Fort Erie area of my riding.

The petitioners ask Parliament to consider that many senior citizens have difficulty living on their current incomes. They ask that their voices and concerns be taken into account when we initiate federal policy.

The seniors ask that we as parliamentarians prevent cuts to the social benefits of senior citizens.

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

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition signed by some 144 constituents of Carleton-Charlotte from the Nackawic, Temperancevale, Millville, Prince William and Dumffries areas.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to request that the government disallow the defence of extreme intoxication as used recently in the courts and amend the Criminal Code accordingly.

[Derek Wells, Liberal, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a petition signed by 520 people mostly from Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne counties in my riding of South Shore.

The petitioners are opposed to the implementation of further gun controls, specifically registration; further restrictions on the sale of ammunition; and the restriction or prohibition of certain handguns.

They feel the legislation unfairly targets gun owners and will do little to deter the criminal use of firearms.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have only one petition to table pursuant to Standing Order 36. It is signed by 115 constituents mainly from the town of Assiniboia.

The petitioners pray that the government not consider further tax increases. They pray and request that Parliament reduce government spending and implement a taxpayers protection act to limit federal spending.

Unfortunately the petition is moot, the budget disaster having already happened.

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions to present today. The first one is in opposition to any move by the government to include the term sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act.

It is from petitioners ranging from Moncton, New Brunswick, to Dover, New Brunswick, to Ottawa, Ontario, and right into British Columbia. I am very proud to say that I support the petition.

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am also proud to present today a petition from the people of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and area who are very opposed to Bill C-68.

They wish the government to pursue other means of enforcing current firearms legislation and not to introduce new legislation that would turn law-abiding gun owners into criminals.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Order, please. There are so many members waiting that perhaps the member could present the others at another time in order to be fair to everybody.

[Jack Frazer, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my duty and honour to rise in the House to present a petition, duly certified by the clerk of petitions, on behalf of 25 constituents of Galiano Island.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

[Mary Clancy, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present petitions from constituents of mine, people from Ottawa and all across the country.

They contain hundreds of names and call upon Parliament to act quickly to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and to adopt all necessary measures to recognize the full equality of same sex relationships in federal law.

[Stan Dromisky, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from constituents of Thunder Bay-Atikokan and Thunder Bay-Nipigon requesting that Parliament not amend 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 Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Stan Dromisky, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition requests that Parliament reinstate the VIA Rail passenger train service in Thunder Bay with appropriate connecting service throughout the country.

The petitioners pray that Parliament will view the reinstatement of VIA Rail as a positive step for the environment, economic development in the community, and the comfort and safety of its citizens. I strongly support the latter petition.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I present a petition on behalf of a number of residents of P.E.I.

The petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to desist from passing additional restrictive legislation with respect to firearms or ammunition and to direct its attention to the apprehension and adequate punishment of those who criminally misuse firearms or other deadly weapons.

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present today. The first one is from Banff and area. It requests that sexual orientation not be included in section 718.2 of Bill C-41.

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from petitioners from the Strathmore area. They ask that Parliament support laws that punish all violent criminals who use weapons in the commission of crime and support code firearm provisions that protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to own recreational firearms.

[The Deputy Speaker]

I am sorry but there are too many people waiting.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions to present. I will lump them together.

The first petition with 474 signatures is on sexual orientation. The petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way that would tend to indicate societal approval of same sexual relationships.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition on euthanasia with 309 signatures. The petitioners pray that Parliament not repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code in any way and uphold the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on September 30, 1993 to disallow assisted suicide or euthanasia.

[Daphne Jennings, Reform, Mission—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I present even more petitions on behalf of Canadian grandchildren to be able to see, talk with and visit their grandparents.

The petitioners ask that Parliament amend the Divorce Act to include a provision to help recognize children's access to their grandparents.

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I appreciate your trying to arrange for the maximum number of members to present petitions.

Since the 15-minute rule is an arbitrary rule and we regularly alter the standing orders to meet the needs of members, could I suggest that today we do not see the clock to allow people who have been away for the past week ample opportunity to present petitions on behalf of their constituents?

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent not to see the clock?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

No.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have five petitions to present today. I will be brief. Two of them reflect on sexual orientation, saying that Parliament shall not include sexual orientation.