Debates of Oct. 28th, 1998

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Bob Speller, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34 I have the honour to present to the House a report from the Canadian branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association concerning the CPA-U.K. branch parliamentary visit which took place May 6 to 22, 1998; the 23rd conference of the Caribbean and the Americas, the Atlantic region, held in Kingston, Jamaica, July 20 to 25, 1998; and the 37th conference of the Canadian region held in Toronto July 18 to 24, 1998.

Criminal Code

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-450, an act to amend the Criminal Code (bail in cases of assault with weapon or criminal harassment).

Mr. Speaker, I am sure you are well aware that a number of individuals who have been arrested for serious violent crimes have been released on bail and have recommitted their crimes.

I am pleased to introduce this private member's bill which would prevent a person accused of sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated sexual assault or criminal harassment who has been identified by the victim or by a witness to the offence, from being released on bail.

The result would be that the accused would not be released until the charge was withdrawn or the accused had been acquitted at a trial.

Subsection 515.(2) which presently allows a judge of a court of superior criminal jurisdiction the discretion to allow bail for these very serious offences would be repealed.

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

Parliament Of Canada Act

[Jim Pankiw, Reform, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-451, an act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and the Canada Elections Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce my private member's bill, an act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and the Canada Elections Act. The bill will provide for fixed election dates to be held on the third Monday of October every four years.

Reform MPs are champions of democratic accountability and the bill seeks to advance the cause of improved democratic procedures by putting an end to the games of politics and patronage which are traditionally played with election dates.

I urge all members of the House to support my bill in the interest of improving the democratic election process in Canada through fixed election dates.

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

Private Members' Business

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

Mr. Speaker, I think you would find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice, Bill C-303 shall be listed in the name of Mr. Bellemare, rather than Mr. Bélanger; Bill C-408 shall be listed in the name of Ms. Jennings, rather than Mr. Dromisky; Bill C-409 shall be listed on the Order Paper in the name of Ms. Redman, rather than Ms. Torsney; Bill C-417 shall be listed on the Order Paper in the name of Mr. Coderre, rather than Mr. Alcock; and Bills C-254, C-282, C-368, C-376 and Motions M-324 and M-325 shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is there unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Petitions

[Werner Schmidt, Reform, Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions that I would like to present to the House. The first petition asks the government to bring in legislation in accordance with the provisions of the Referendum Act, 1992, which would require a binding national referendum to be held at the time of the next election to ask voters whether or not they are in favour of government funding for medically unnecessary abortions.

[Werner Schmidt, Reform, Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition asks that the Government of Canada amend section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to (a) recognize the fundamental rights of individuals to pursue family life free from undue interference of the state and (b) to recognize the fundamental right, responsibility and liberty of parents to direct the upbringing of their children, and that we urge the legislative assemblies of the provinces to do likewise.

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(1), I have the honour to present a petition on behalf of my constituents from the beautiful towns of Owen Sound, Sauble Beach, Mar and Wiarton.

The petitioners ask that the government regulate the use of watercraft. Georgian Bay is a beautiful tourist region and excessive speed and noise are creating problems and the petitioners would like watercraft to be regulated.

[Louise Hardy, NDP, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present on the defence of provocation. The signatories express concern about the defence mitigating a murder charge down to manslaughter on the basis of an insult or a perceived insult, not on the basis of the actions of the person who was killed.

This is probably just in time because the Minister of Justice has released a discussion paper on this very topic and I hope the minister will take the petition into account.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of a number of Canadians, including Canadians from my own riding of Mississauga South. It has to do with human rights.

The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that this is the year marking the 50th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights, that Canada is an internationally recognized leader in promoting human rights around the world and that human rights abuses tragically continue in many countries around the world, including countries such as Indonesia.

The petitioners therefore call upon parliament and Canada to appeal for action to be taken by leaders of countries where human rights are not being protected and to seek to bring to justice those responsible for the violation of internationally recognized human rights.

[Peter Goldring, Reform, Edmonton East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this House today as the humble servant of Edmonton East and Canada to proudly present a petition.

Newfoundland enjoined Confederation in 1949 after a proud partnership with Canada and England in the two world wars. Today Newfoundlanders and Quebecers ask as one in this petition for the Prime Minister and the Parliament of Canada to declare that Canada is indivisible and that this is a state alterable only by all citizens of Canada and this federal government.

I am pleased that the Supreme Court of Canada recently concurred.

[Guy St-Julien, Liberal, Abitibi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present two petitions, one from Normand Bélanger of Matagami, and one from Pierre Lessard of Val-d'Or, concerning Bill C-68 on firearms.

[Jim Pankiw, Reform, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have one petition to present today which calls upon parliament to review the mandate of the CRTC and direct the CRTC to administer a new policy which will encourage the licensing of single faith broadcasters.

[Gary Pillitteri, Liberal, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today under Standing Order 36 to present a certified petition that was handed to me at the 53rd Serbian Day held in my riding of Niagara Falls.

The petitioners, a large number from Niagara Falls, are calling upon this House to consider very carefully the situation that is developing presently in Kosovo.

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present a petition pursuant to Standing Order 36 on behalf of a large number of constituents from the Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys constituency who are concerned about the increased premiums we are going to see in the Canada Pension Plan and the impact that is going to have, in particular on those who are operating small businesses and those who are self-employed.

These are crucial times economically and the petitioners feel that these extra costs could be extremely problematic.

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, petitioners from central British Columbia are concerned about the penalties handed out to those people who are cruel toward animals. They feel that judges are not handing out appropriate sentences and that there ought to be some kind of education program for judges so that people who are cruel to animals are treated in a more appropriate fashion.

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, petitioners from central British Columbia are concerned that the government has not given up on the MAI and its implications and that it will pursue it at the WTO. They are asking that parliament impose a moratorium on any ratification of the MAI or of the clauses contained therein at whatever forum, whether it be at the WTO or another forum.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present today. The first petition requests that parliament support a motion introduced by the member for Yorkton—Melville. The motion would require a binding national referendum to be held at the time of the next election to ask voters whether or not they are in favour of government funding for medically unnecessary abortions.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition asks parliament to support a motion introduced by the member for Yorkton—Melville which asks that we recognize the fundamental right of individuals to pursue family life free from undue interference by the state and the fundamental right, responsibility and liberty of parents to direct the upbringing of their children, and that we urge the legislative assemblies of the provinces to do likewise.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the final petition refers to the appeal of the July 29, 1998 Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision granting equal pay for work of equal value. The petitioners ask that parliament intervene to have the government withdraw its appeal to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision and to intervene to have the government implement the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision without further delay.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the many Canadian citizens who have signed this petition are lobbying the government to recognize that the Islamic republic of Iran is witnessing a worsening in human rights practices, and yet the Government of Canada considers it a safe country and still deports people to Iran. The people who have signed this petition feel strongly that Iran should lose its status as a safe country and that the Government of Canada should not be deporting people to that country.

Questions On The Order Paper

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

Mr. Speaker, Question No. 129 will be answered today. .[Text]

Question No. 129—