House of Commons Hansard #221 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was environment.
Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Kingston and the Islands Ontario
Liberal
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 16 petitions.
John Harvard Liberal Winnipeg—St. James, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on Bill C-82, an act to amend the Royal Canadian Mint Act, without amendment.
I would like to add a few more words on behalf of the committee. In the deliberations on Bill C-82, an act to amend the Royal Canadian Mint Act, the Standing Committee on Government Operations heard two separate messages from both government and industry on the introduction of the new $2 coin.
First, the Government of Canada is introducing the new $2 coin because of the savings it will generate for the taxpayers. Within 20 years more than $254 million will be saved for Canadians with the introduction of the coin. Further, the government is expected to accrue an additional $449 million in seigniorage to the consolidated revenue fund within 18 months of the issue. The savings for taxpayers are significant indeed.
We also heard a second message loud and clear from industry, small and medium sized businesses in particular. Although industry supports in principle the introduction of the new coin because of the associated savings, business has expressed serious concern over the timing of the move. The affected businesses and associations clearly stated that the 12-month notice is not adequate time to prepare for this adjustment.
Given the fact that a delay in the introduction of the coin would cost the Government of Canada an estimated $109 million in the fiscal year 1995-96, the committee recognizes the need for the Government of Canada to balance both the requirements of industry with those of fiscal responsibility and budgetary prudence.
The committee recommends that the Royal Canadian Mint-
Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)
Order. The standing orders provide for a brief intervention. I would deem this intervention to go beyond the letter and the spirit of that standing order.
I would ask the hon. member for Winnipeg St. James to conclude.
John Harvard Liberal Winnipeg—St. James, MB
Mr. Speaker, the one paragraph I have left contains the major recommendation. Perhaps I could seek the indulgence of the House.
The committee recommends that the Royal Canadian Mint, the Department of Finance and the Bank of Canada work with
industry, small and medium sized businesses, in particular, to ensure a smooth and least cost integration of the new $2 coin into the marketplace. The government should further consider participation in a public awareness campaign with the affected stakeholders to minimize any possible disruption in trade and commerce.
Shirley Maheu Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 31, the form and the content of the attached petition have been certified.
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition from approximately 850 Canadians from the Montreal area. The long and turbulent history of humanity has, at times, concealed far reaching events of tragic proportions.
Eighty years ago the Armenian genocide, perpetrated by the Turkish government of the Ottoman Empire, claimed the lives of 1.5 million innocent Armenian victims.
Resolutions of the United Nations subcommission, the European Parliament, South American countries and in Canada, the legislatures of Quebec and Ontario have condemned this monumental crime.
Hence, the petitioners request that Parliament change its policy of indifference toward the Armenian genocide and actively initiate and promote international efforts to persuade Turkey to recognize its crime against humanity.
Ronald J. Duhamel Liberal St. Boniface, MB
Mr. Speaker, Canadians of the Islamic faith want the government to consider guardianship as an option to adoption. They point out that guardianship, as they see it, would include the same legal and moral obligations as adoption.
The petitioners point out that guardianship, as they would want it, is in accord with their religious beliefs. They would like the government to begin discussions to see how this might be done.
Ronald J. Duhamel Liberal St. Boniface, MB
Mr. Speaker, a second petition is with respect to violence and abuse in all forms, be it verbal, physical or other in society in general. It is not seen as necessary to educate, to inform or to entertain.
The petitioners call on the government to ensure that the CRTC regulates the amount of violence and abuse. They point out that there have been some gains made. They applaud that but they want even more for the future.
Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I should like to table three petitions.
Barry Campbell Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the pleasure of presenting to the House a series of petitions.
The first is a petition signed by 100 residents of Toronto calling on Parliament to make a firm commitment to supporting the Harbourfront Centre. I am sure they look forward to the government's answer.
Barry Campbell Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am also tabling six petitions signed by almost 1,800 Canadians calling on Parliament to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to include sexual orientation as a prohibitive ground of discrimination.
Leon Benoit Reform Vegreville, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have a bushel of petitions to present on behalf of the constituents of Vegreville.
In two petitions the petitioners recognize that public safety is a number one priority in the criminal justice system. They also recognize that the existing controls on law-abiding responsible gun owners are more than enough to ensure public safety.
The petitioners are requesting that Parliament support laws that will severely punish all violent criminals who use weapons in the commission of a crime, support new Criminal Code firearms control provisions that recognize and protect the right of law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms, and support legislation that will repeal and modify existing gun control laws that have not improved public safety.
Leon Benoit Reform Vegreville, AB
Mr. Speaker, in the third petition the petitioners request Parliament to hold a binding referendum to accept or reject two official languages.
Leon Benoit Reform Vegreville, AB
Mr. Speaker, I also have six petitions to present wherein the petitioners are requesting that Parliament not increase taxes.
Leon Benoit Reform Vegreville, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have another petition to present. It asks Parliament to oppose any amendments to the human rights act or the charter of rights and freedoms that provide for the inclusion of the phrase sexual orientation.
Leon Benoit Reform Vegreville, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have two further petitions to present which ask Parliament to oppose any legislation that would directly or indirectly redefine the family.
Allan Kerpan Reform Moose Jaw—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have five petitions to present today.
The first two petitions are signed by 77 people who ask Parliament to enforce the present provisions of the Criminal Code respecting assisted suicides and that no changes in the law be contemplated by Parliament.
Allan Kerpan Reform Moose Jaw—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, I also table the wishes of 96 people who humbly pray that Parliament not amend the human rights code to include in the prohibitive grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.
Allan Kerpan Reform Moose Jaw—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have a further petition signed by 200 constituents who pray that Parliament target for all gun control in the Criminal Code of Canada the criminals who are either a danger to the safety of the public or those who have a criminal intent, not law-abiding, responsible firearms owners.
Allan Kerpan Reform Moose Jaw—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by 51 constituents in full support of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly powers with relation to marketing wheat and barley for export.
Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have six petitions to present today. The first is from an area in my riding known as boundary country.
These 42 petitioners are concerned that the rights and authority of parents over their children have been eroded by legislation and other acts of the Government of Canada. Therefore they are asking Parliament to ensure the rights of parents, teachers and people in authority to exercise judicious control over the actions of their children.
Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition deals with section 745 of the Criminal Code. The 25 petitioners request that the section of the Criminal Code be repealed.
I have two petitions dealing with the same matter, another 25 signatures calling for the repeal of section 745.
Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC
Mr. Speaker, the next petition has a total of 69 petitioners.
The undersigned citizens of Canada draw to the attention of the House that dangerous sex offenders and pedophiles should be locked up for life, that statutory release should be revoked, that stiffer sentences should be imposed on violent offenders, and that violent criminals should serve their full sentence and have time added for bad behaviour.
Therefore the petitioners call on Parliament to return the rights to the citizens of Canada from the criminals and ask that Parliament honour these requests.
Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC
Mr. Speaker, the next petition is dealing with doctor assisted suicide. I have 151 petitioners from my riding who are calling on Parliament to ensure the Criminal Code of Canada prohibits assisted suicide and to ensure that no changes are made in the law that will allow euthanasia.
Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC
Mr. Speaker, 78 residents of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt call on Parliament to act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.
Jack Frazer Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, I only have one petition to present.
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 108 individuals from the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands and surrounding area.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to consider, if the $2 bill is to be discontinued and replaced with a coin, that it depict the face of Terry Fox, a Canadian who has done more than anyone else we can think of to bring Canadians from coast to coast together in a single endeavour.