Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present this morning from a number of communities in my riding, Niverville, Steinbach and the Grunthal area, all dealing with the same subject matter.
These people are concerned about amendments to section 43 of the Criminal Code dealing primarily with the discipline of children.
It is their view that the rights of parents are to be protected under these circumstances, that the best interests of the children are protected by parents and not the state.
May I conclude on their behalf by saying therefore the petitioners request Parliament to affirm the duty of parents to responsibly raise their children according to their own conscience and beliefs and to retain section 43 in Canada's Criminal Code as it is currently worded.