Debates of March 14th, 2001

Petitions

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present two petitions. The first petition deals with child pornography.

The petitioners are asking parliament to take all measures necessary to ensure that possession of child pornography remains a serious criminal offence and that federal police forces be directed to give priority to enforcing this law for the protection of children.

[Jean Augustine, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition addresses the issue of collective bargaining rights and rural route mail couriers.

The petitioners ask that subsection 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act be repealed so that private sector workers who deliver mail in rural areas have collective bargaining rights, as do public sector workers who deliver mail for Canada Post in urban areas.

[John M. Cummins, Canadian Alliance, Delta—South Richmond, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I bring to the attention of the House a petition organized by one of my constituents, Mr. Cran Campbell.

The petitioners draw to the attention of the House the level of violent material on the Internet in interactive video and computer games. They want the House to understand the detrimental effects that this interactive marketing of violence has on children and on society.

They also want to express their concern with the definition of obscenity in the criminal code and the fact that there is a linkage in the criminal code regarding obscenity between sex and violence. They feel this issue should be addressed by the House to protect Canada's children from this exploitive marketing of violence.

[Steve Mahoney, Liberal, Mississauga West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I should like to present two petitions signed by 666 Canadians. The first one is from Falun Dafa of Canada, the peace team that is asking Canada to act as a mediator, if necessary, with the Chinese government to assist those who have been imprisoned for practising Falun Gong.

The second petition asks the Canadian government to apply for diplomatic immunity and visas for Canada's Falun Dafa peace delegation to visit China.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present a petition signed by many Canadians who feel strongly about our health care system.

The petitioners want to see the government enforce the Canada Health Act and the five principles of medicare.

They feel so strongly about our health care system that they call upon parliament to enshrine the Canada Health Act and the five principles of medicare in the Canadian constitution to guarantee national standards of quality publicly funded health care for every Canadian citizen as a right.

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to submit a petition signed by residents of my riding of Pierrefonds—Dollard.

As the right of landing fee of $975 for each prospective immigrant creates an impediment for those with large families wishing to immigrate to Canada and places a heavy burden on those who are seeking to integrate themselves into the Canadian economy, the petitioners are asking the Canadian parliament to abolish this right of landing fee.

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is also signed by residents of my riding of Pierrefonds—Dollard.

The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the fact that the 10 year residency requirement of the Old Age Security Act for eligibility for full pension and partial pension primarily applies to landed immigrants and causes a hurdle for them to integrate and contribute freely to Canadian society.

The petitioners ask the Canadian parliament to abolish the 10 year residency requirement for all seniors.

[Bob Mills, Canadian Alliance, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition signed by 30 people mostly from my riding of Red Deer.

My constituents are concerned that rural route mail couriers often earn less than the minimum wage and that private sector workers who deliver mail in rural areas have collective bargaining rights, as do public sector workers who deliver mail for Canada Post in urban areas.

Therefore the petitioners call upon parliament to repeal subsection 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from my riding of Mississauga South, which is particularly apt since we have a votable motion, Motion No. 155, on health warning labels.

The petitioners draw to the attention of the House that the Food and Drugs Act is designed to protect Canadians from potentially harmful effects related to the consumption of products.

They point out that the consumption of alcoholic beverages may cause health problems. In particular, fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol related birth defects are 100% avoidable by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy.

Therefore the petitioners call on the House to mandate health warning labels such as prescribed by Motion No. 155, which is a votable motion, to caution expectant mothers and others of the risks associated with alcohol consumption.

[Jason Kenney, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition signed by some 3,500 residents, principally if not completely from Ontario.

Essentially they are supporting the private member's bill which I introduced that seeks to restore a more fair tax regime for Canadian recipients of U.S. social security payments, and to undo the negative effects of the third protocol between Canada and the United States by restoring the 50% tax inclusion rate for social security payments.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

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

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In relation to questions on the order paper I have a very legitimate complaint. I have a number of questions on the order paper dating back to the last parliament. In two months' time these questions will enjoy their first birthday in the House without a response from the government.

Reading through Beauchesne's and Marleau and Montpetit, the questions were accepted by the Clerk of the House. They were deemed to be in order but I have not had a response from the government.

The urgency on this matter has to be made public. Two questions in particular have to do with the selling of military equipment by the government through a third party. The third party is called Lancaster Aviation.

Not to deviate too far from the rules, this is important because we are questioning the government on the selling of 40 Bell helicopters.

There is some legitimate concern being expressed by the public that these helicopters may have fallen into the hands of paramilitary groups, rogue nations and terrorists.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member is on a point of order and is not here to make a speech. I presume he has made his point that these questions have not been answered for an extended period. I think that is the point of order.

Perhaps we could hear from the hon. parliamentary secretary in that regard, if he wishes to respond, and bring the matter to a conclusion.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have heard the member's point of order. I admit to being a little unclear personally as to the status of questions asked and unanswered in a previous parliament. If it is the practice or convention or rule that questions asked in a prior parliament carry over to a subsequent parliament provided the member is re-elected, then I certainly would see to the obtaining of the answers the hon. member has sought and would do that forthwith.

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the questions have been put on the order paper in the 37th parliament. The point I am making is that we have gone through two parliaments in almost a year, and we will be blowing out the candle on this one before the answer is received. There is no excuse for the government not coming up with these answers. It is a consistent pattern of—

[The Speaker]

I thank the hon. member for the clarification for the benefit of the parliamentary secretary. I am sure the matter will be looked into. If we do not receive a satisfactory response, perhaps we will hear from the hon. member again tomorrow when the questions come up.

The hon. parliamentary secretary has asked that all questions be allowed to stand. I am sure the House would want to hear from him again if he does not have a response.

Shall the remaining questions stand?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions For Papers

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Notices of Motions for the Production of Papers be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Earlier in routine proceedings the matter of concurrence in the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs came up. As a result of that, there was a recorded division requested and deferred.

I am asking if there would be unanimous consent in the House at this time to dispense with that deferred recorded division and to deal with the matter of concurrence at this time.

[The Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent to withdraw the motion from consideration later this day?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

The House resumed from March 2 consideration of the motion that Bill C-13, an act to amend the Excise Tax Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.