House of Commons Hansard #85 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was justice.
Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, I realize you are going to ask the question on this particular motion. I just want to make the point that the assertion by the deputy House leader that there is something wrong with what has gone on here today is completely out of line—
Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
Order, please. I think hon. members clearly disagree. The member who spoke was on debate. He moved a motion which the Chair is under an obligation to put to the House. We are not free to debate it. I am sorry for the whip, but I think he knows that what he might want to say is something he could argue on debate and not on a point of order.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.
Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
All those opposed will please say nay.
Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
In my opinion the nays have it.
And more than five members having risen:
Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
Call in the members.
And the bells having rung:
Bob Kilger Liberal Stormont—Dundas, ON
Mr. Speaker, I think if you were to seek it you would find that the House would give its unanimous consent to pass the motion, on division, and then we could return to Routine Proceedings.
Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
I declare the motion carried. The chief government whip proposes that we now return to Routine Proceedings. Is that also agreed by the House?
Val Meredith Reform South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition on behalf of 226 British Columbians. With the indulgence of the Speaker I will read their petition.
It states: “Taxing reading is unfair and wrong. Literacy and reading are crucial to Canada's future. Removing the GST from reading material will help promote literacy in Canada. `Applying tax to books and periodicals discourages reading. The Liberal Party has passed a resolution calling for the removal of the GST on books and periodicals and that's what I will do'. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, September—”
PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The hon. member knows that she cannot refer to members by name and she knows too that she cannot read from a petition, so she is really treading on very thin ice. That is one of the difficulties with reading from petitions. I invite her to summarize the petition and get to the point of it promptly.
Val Meredith Reform South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC
The petitioners urge Parliament to remove the GST from books, magazines and newspapers and I concur with this request.
PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The hon. member has gone through the ice. She knows that she is not to express her assent or dissent from the opinions expressed in a petition. I invite her to comply with the rules in every respect when she presents petitions.
Gurbax Malhi Liberal Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the Standing Order 36 I have the honour to present the following petition signed by 44 individuals.
The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the fact that they are calling upon parliament to encourage the government to maintain the pension and old age deduction or credit and to ensure that the seniors' benefit is based on individual spouse's income.
Rick Casson Reform Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am pleased to present the following petition which comes from concerned citizens in my riding of Lethbridge, Alberta and contains 68 signatures.
My constituents are very concerned that negotiations for the MAI have been conducted behind closed doors and that Canadians have been kept in the dark about the MAI, even though it will have a major impact on many areas of Canadian life.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to impose a moratorium on Canadian participation in the MAI negotiations until a full public debate on the proposed treaty has taken place across this country, so that all Canadians may have an opportunity to express their opinions and decide on the advisability of proceeding with the MAI.
Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by hundreds of people who live in rural parts of the riding of Peterborough, particularly people of Keene who have recently lost their only bank.
They point out that rural Canada contributes substantially to the national economy. The Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry is the third largest employer in Canada. The tourism industry is also a large employer in many areas of rural Canada. Residents of rural areas often have difficulty in finding any incentive to support local initiatives and businesses due to the lack of banking facilities.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to work toward ensuring that the needs and concerns of residents of rural Canada are addressed and that their access to local banking facilities is maintained, thus encouraging businesses to remain a viable part of rural Canada.
Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have another in a series of petitions signed by thousands of people in support of the bioartificial kidney research project. They hope that this project will eventually replace dialysis and transplantation as a cure for kidney disease.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to work and support the bioartificial kidney which will eventually eliminate the need for dialysis or transplantation for those suffering from kidney disease.
Grant McNally Reform Dewdney—Alouette, BC
Mr. Speaker, the first petition is being presented by approximately 50 of my constituents on the MAI, the multilateral agreement on investment. They petition Parliament to impose a moratorium on ratifications and conduct full public hearings so that Canadians can have an opportunity to express their opinions about it.
Grant McNally Reform Dewdney—Alouette, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition from approximately 60 of my constituents. They are petitioning Parliament to support the immediate initiation and conclusion by the year 2000 of an international convention which will set out a binding timetable for the abolition of all nuclear weapons.