Debates of Sept. 29th, 1998

Criminal Records Act

[Jay Hill, Reform, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion.

I move:

That following the conclusion of debate on Bill C-284, standing in the name of the member for Calgary Centre, the question be deemed put, a recorded division requested and deferred to the completion of Government Orders on Tuesday, October 6.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Petitions

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions to present today. The first petition draws to the attention of the House the definition of marriage as the majority of Canadians understand it. Accordingly, the petitioners call upon parliament to enact Bill C-225 to amend the Marriage Act and the Interpretation Act to define marriage as being between a single male and a single female.

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition comes from a large number of constituents and concerns the decision of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission not to licence four religious television broadcasters. The petitioners call upon parliament to review the mandate of the CRTC and direct the CRTC to encourage the licensing of religious broadcasters.

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the final petition I wish to present relates to the multilateral agreement on investment. The petitioners request parliament to impose a moratorium on Canadian participation in MAI negotiations until a full public debate has taken place.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present this morning. The first petition, with 175 signatures, comes from my constituency, primarily from the districts of Leader, Prelate and Mendham in Saskatchewan.

The petitioners wish to point out that the concept of marriage is a voluntary union of an unmarried male and an unmarried female and that it is the duty of parliament to ensure that marriage as it has been known and understood in Canada should be preserved.

The petitioners therefore call upon parliament to enact Bill C-225, an act to amend the Marriage Act and the Interpretation Act so as to define in statute that a marriage can only be entered into between a single male and a single female.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition comes primarily from residents of Mount Albert, Ontario.

The petitioners call upon parliament to recognize that Bill C-68 was supported by misleading statistical data when it was presented to parliament, that there is no evidence that the criminal use of firearms is impeded by restrictive firearms legislation, that the enforcement of Bill C-68 would be a major burden on police officers and that the search and seizure provisions of Bill C-68 would constitute a breach of traditional civil rights and would be an affront to all law-abiding Canadians.

The petitioners therefore call upon parliament to repeal Bill C-68 and all associated regulations with respect to firearms and ammunition and pass new legislation designed to severely penalize the criminal use of any weapon.

This brings the tally to 4,026 signatures on petitions of this nature which I have recently presented in the House.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have seven petitions, all on the same subject matter. They total approximately 450 signatures.

The first petition comes from my riding of Scarborough Southwest. The others are from New Westminster, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; LaSalle, Quebec; and Lower Sackville and Fall River, Nova Scotia.

All of the petitions call upon parliament to enact my Bill C-225, an act to amend the Marriage Act and the Interpretation Act so as to define in statute that which is already in federal common law, namely that a marriage can only be entered into between a single male and a single female.

[Dale Johnston, Reform, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present on behalf of residents of Wetaskiwin and other areas in central Alberta. The petition deals with the concept of marriage as only being a voluntary union between a single male and a single female.

The petitioners call upon parliament to enact Bill C-225, an act to amend the Marriage Act and the Interpretation Act so as to define in statute that a marriage can only be entered into between a single male and a single female.

[Darrel Stinson, Reform, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition today from B.C. residents who recognize that registering firearms does nothing to fight violent crime.

The petitioners want Bill C-68 to be repealed and the money spent on effective anti-crime measures, including prevention and more policing.

[Jack Ramsay, Reform, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a number of petitions calling for significant changes to the present Young Offenders Act. Over 350 petitioners call upon parliament to make the protection of society the number one priority in amending the Young Offenders Act through measures such as reducing the minimum age of young offenders, publishing violent young offenders' names, increasing the penalties for crimes committed by youth and ensuring parental responsibility.

[Jack Ramsay, Reform, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to put forward a number of petitions regarding the issue of firearms registration and firearms control. Almost 150 petitioners have asked that the House repeal Bill C-68 and redirect the funds for the registration and licensing scheme to more effective means of reducing violent crime and improving public safety, such as more police and crime prevention programs, women's crisis centres, suicide prevention centres and increased resources for fighting organized crime and street crime.

[Jack Ramsay, Reform, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, 70 of my constituents have asked me to present their petition supporting Bill C-225 which would define in statute that a marriage can only be entered into between a single male and a single female.

[Jack Ramsay, Reform, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition asking the House to support private member's Bill C-304 which would strengthen the protection of property rights in the country.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Gar Knutson, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Dna Identification Act

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That in relation to Bill C-3, an act respecting DNA identification and to make consequential amendments to the Criminal Code and other Acts, not more than one further sitting day shall be allotted to the consideration of the third reading stage of the bill and, 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for the government business on the allotted day of the third reading consideration of the said bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this order, and in turn every question necessary for the disposal of the third reading stage of the bill shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.

[The Deputy Speaker]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Deputy Speaker]

All those in favour will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Deputy Speaker]

All those opposed will please say nay.