House of Commons Hansard #94 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pornography.
Gerry Ritz Reform Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today, on behalf of my constituents, mostly from the Battlefords area, to present two petitions.
The first petition decries the public funding of abortion in this country. The petitioners say that this is something that should be addressed very quickly.
Gerry Ritz Reform Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
Mr. Speaker, the second petition deals with day parole, a very timely petition in light of what has just happened in British Columbia.
Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have another petition from people in the Peterborough area who are concerned about children and civilians in Iraq. They point out that Desert Storm and the sanctions since have devastated the Iraqi economy and estimate that it has caused the deaths of 5,000 children a month.
The petitioners call upon the Parliament of Canada to stop the suffering and death of the Iraqi people, and that excluding an embargo on military matériel, other sanctions be lifted. They urge Canada and the United Nations to vastly increase efforts to provide food, medicine and funds for infrastructure reconstruction in Iraq. They also ask that the compensation fund taken from the oil for food program be suspended.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and a pleasure to present a petition, pursuant to Standing Order 36, on the topic of the Senate.
The petitioners point out that the Senate is a very expensive institution, that it does not make sense in today's democratic world, and the fact that it is an appointed House of Parliament makes it a totally undemocratic institution.
They are calling upon parliament to simply take whatever measures are necessary to abolish it once and for all.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have another petition on an unrelated topic.
The petitioners, primarily from the Kamloops region, point out their concerns regarding the production of child pornography. They point out that a child has to be victimized in order to produce child pornography, that child pornography hurts children and therefore can never be justified, and that the possession of child pornography perpetuates the production of child pornography.
They call upon parliament once again to recognize the fact that Canadians reject any effort to legalize the possession of child pornography. They ask parliament to intervene in this matter to establish and strengthen the laws relating to the possession of child pornography to ensure that it will never, ever, ever be legalized.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
I have another petition, Mr. Speaker, on a topic that I know you also have strong feelings about, the issue of a national highway system. I should not put words in your mouth, Mr. Speaker, I am just assuming that you, like most other members of parliament, would be interested in this topic.
A large number of constituents point out the need for a national highway system. They point out that a national highway transportation infrastructure that is well developed leads to an improved quality of life for Canadians because of greater productivity, greater trade opportunities, greater job creation opportunities and a real boost to tourism.
They are calling upon the federal government to take the appropriate action.
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
John Cummins Reform Delta—South Richmond, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have two questions on the order paper, Question No. 28, which was first asked on March 23, 1999, and Question No. 29, which was first asked on March 24, 1999, which have never been answered. These questions go to the heart of the mefloquine scandal which brought the Department of National Defence somewhat into disrepute and the health protection branch of our country as well.
I think the questions are even more compelling and the answers would be much more useful given the current problems in Africa and the probability that perhaps Canadian troops may again be required to take mefloquine. I would like to know when I could expect an answer to these questions.
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Mr. Speaker, the member quite properly is seeking a more prompt response to his question.
The answers to his questions are being prepared as I have indicated to him in the House. I understand some modifications have been made to initial drafts to the answers to take account of the realities of the background and perhaps some changes that have evolved. I must tell the hon. member that the answers to his questions are imminent.
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
Shall the remaining questions stand?
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, would you be so kind as to call Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers No. P-5 in the name of the hon. member for Brandon—Souris.
Motion No. P-5
That an order of the House do issue for a copy of all documents, reports, minutes of meetings, notes, e-mail, memos and correspondence within the Department of Agriculture involving an analysis of the inadequacies within the agriculture income disaster assistance, AIDA, program.
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Mr. Speaker, the intention of the agricultural income disaster assistance program was to target assistance to those farmers in the greatest need. The federal government is confident that the principles of AIDA remain a sound basis on which to design a disaster program for agriculture. Therefore the government, and the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food in particular, has not produced any document on the inadequacies of the program.
I therefore ask the hon. member to withdraw his motion.
Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Mr. Speaker, the answer that came back on the motion for the production of papers is totally inadequate and I will not be withdrawing my motion. I will be transferring the motion to Private Members' Business.
Motions For PapersRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The motion is transferred for debate pursuant to Standing Order 97(1).
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
I ask that the other Notices of Motions for the Production of Papers be allowed to stand.
The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-16, an act respecting Canadian citizenship, as reported (with amendment) from the committee.
Citizenship Of Canada ActGovernment Orders
The Deputy Speaker
There are 23 motions in amendment standing on the notice paper for the report stage of Bill C-16.
The motions will be grouped for debate as follows:
Group No. 1, Motions Nos. 1 to 3, 17 and 22.
Group No. 2, Motions Nos. 4 and 5. Group No. 3, Motions Nos. 6 to 8, 15, 16, and 18 to 21. Group No. 4, Motions Nos. 9 and 23. Group No. 5, Motions Nos. 10 and 14.
The voting patterns for the motions within each group are available at the table. The Chair will remind the House of each pattern at the time of voting.
I will now put Motions Nos. 1 to 3, 17 and 22 to the House.
Bob Kilger Liberal Stormont—Dundas, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There have been some discussions among representatives of all parties. I think if you were to seek consent of the House that the House might consent to put all the motions at this time.
Citizenship Of Canada ActGovernment Orders
The Deputy Speaker
Is there unanimous consent to proceed in this fashion?
Citizenship Of Canada ActGovernment Orders
The Deputy Speaker
Is it agreed that all the motions will be put to the House now in the order in which they are grouped?