moved for leave to introduce Bill C-399, an act respecting conscientious objection to the use of taxes for military purposes.
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of presenting this private member's bill known as the conscientious objection act. The purpose of the bill is to permit individuals, who object on conscientious grounds to paying taxes that might be used for military purposes, to direct that an amount equivalent to a prescribed percentage of the income tax they pay in a year be diverted to a special account established by this bill.
The bill would not constrain in any way the ability of the government to spend tax dollars as it sees fit.
In introducing this bill today on International Human Rights Day, I pay special tribute to Conscience Canada, in particular to Kris Manfield, to the Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, the Mennonite Central Committee and the Conference of Mennonites and also Nos Impôts pour la paix.
I urge the Minister of Finance to meet with these groups and I urge all members of parliament to support this important legislation.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)