Norman E. Doyle on Petitions

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition on behalf of approximately 300 people from St. John's East who are concerned that the British Columbia Court of Appeal on June 30, 1999 dismissed the appeal to reinstate subsection 163.1(4) of the criminal code, making possession of child pornography illegal in British Columbia. The petitioners state that by upholding the lower court decision possession of child pornography in British Columbia is now legal. The petitioners state that the well-being and safety of children are in jeopardy. Therefore, the petitioners call upon parliament to invoke section 33 of the charter of rights and freedoms, commonly known as the notwithstanding clause, to override the B.C. court of appeal decision, and to reinstate subsection 163.1(4) of the criminal code, making the possession of child pornography in British Columbia illegal, and by so doing reinforce and affirm our objection to the B.C. court of appeal decision.