Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by many Canadians from all parts of the country.
The petition collected by members of the Council of Canadians notes that the petitioners have a right to health care if they are sick, to education if they need training, to a pension if they are senior, to insurance against joblessness if they are a worker, to assistance if they are poor or homeless, to day care services if they are a parent working outside the home and to access to cultural institutions.
The petitioners note that social programs form the very fabric of Canada and that cuts to social programs are not necessary since tax breaks and subsidies to wealthy individuals and profitable corporations have caused close to half the debt while social programs have caused less than 6 per cent.
The petitioners call on Parliament to maintain and enhance social programs which are the right and heritage of all Canadians.