Debates of June 6th, 2001

Committees Of The House

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Transport and Government Operations regarding an order of reference of Tuesday, May 15, 2001, in relation to Bill S-3 respecting the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, 1987, and to make consequential amendments to other acts.

I am reporting the bill without amendment from the committee.

[Susan Whelan, Liberal, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on Bill S-11, an act to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act and the Canada Cooperatives Act and to amend other acts.

The committee reports the bill with amendment.

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Pursuant to the standing orders the committee asks the subcommittee to consider the issue of Canadian economic relations with Europe.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

[John Williams, Canadian Alliance, St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts containing the conclusions and recommendations of the committee on the Government of Canada's new policies on internal audit and evaluation.

I also want to table the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on the performance and plans and priorities of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to both these reports.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the selection of votable items,

In accordance with Standing Order 92 this report is deemed adopted on presentation.

I also have the honour to present the 26th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, in both official languages, and I should like to move concurrence at this time.

[The Speaker]

Does the hon. parliamentary secretary have unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I should like to present a resolution which I know has the support of the four opposition foreign affairs critics. If you would seek unanimous consent, I hope it will be given. The motion concerns the advisability of proclaiming Nelson Mandela an honorary citizen of Canada.

I move the following motion:

Whereas the majority of people in South Africa, whose skin happened to be black, were denied elementary democratic rights by white racist administrations for hundreds of years;

And whereas courageous black South Africans initially formed the African National Congress in 1912 to crusade against apartheid and subsequently opened the organization to people of all colours;

And whereas Nelson Mandela, having emerged as a leader of the ANC, was imprisoned for almost three decades following criminal proceedings that made a mockery of justice;

And whereas after Mr. Mandela finally emerged as a free man, he demonstrated remarkable statesmanship and compassion by forgiving all who had oppressed him and his people;

And whereas Mr. Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, was subsequently elected as President of the new South Africa in its first democratic election and emerged as a moral leader of extraordinary and global stature;

And whereas Canada, beginning with the leadership of John George Diefenbaker, consistently opposed apartheid and supported the struggle of Mr. Mandela and his compatriots during times when many other nations were indifferent;

And whereas Mr. Mandela, most recently on a visit to Canada in 1998, has continually inspired the members of this Parliament, the people of Canada and, most especially, young Canadians with his profound commitment to liberal democracy, human rights and the struggle against oppression of all people;

And whereas the highest recognition that Canada can bestow upon a foreigner is honorary citizenship;

And whereas Canada has previously granted this high honour only once, in 1985, to Raoul Wallenberg in recognition of his remarkable effort in saving the lives of almost 100,000 Jews in Nazi controlled Hungary and his subsequent imprisonment and suffering in the former Soviet Union;

And whereas other remarkable crusaders for justice, including Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, met with violent deaths before Canada could properly recognize their contributions;

And whereas Mr. Mandela's sunset years are devoted to the freedom and welfare of children in Africa and elsewhere;

And whereas Mr. Mandela has graciously agreed to accept this high tribute and will be making his last trip to North America in September of this year,

Now therefore—the House of Commons resolves that the said Nelson Mandela, that icon of the human spirit, be hereby declared to be an honorary citizen of Canada;

And that a message be sent to the Senate requesting that House to unite with this House in the said resolution by filling in the blank with the words “Senate and the”.

[The Speaker]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

Petitions

[John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to introduce two petitions today.

The first petition is from constituents in West Vancouver who urge the Government of Canada to enact legislation explicitly recognizing the freedom of conscience of health care workers in Canada.

[John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from constituents in the area of Powell River, British Columbia who are asking the government to declare that Canada objects to the national missile defence program in the United States. They ask that Canada play a leadership role in banning nuclear weapons and missile flight tests in Canada.

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am honoured to present petitions on behalf of the citizens living in Grand Bend in the London area. They call upon parliament to protect the health of seniors and children and to protect our environment by banning the gas additive MMT.

[Joe Clark, Progressive Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of constituents of Calgary Centre to present a petition that calls upon parliament to enact an immediate moratorium on the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides until such time as their use has been scientifically proven to be safe and the long term consequences of their application are known.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition from citizens of my riding concerning the use of cosmetic pesticides in Canada. These 25 petitioners also call upon parliament to enact an immediate moratorium on the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides until such time as scientific studies show their use to be safe and the long term consequences of their application are known.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition signed by residents of the lower mainland who wish to draw the attention of the House to their concern that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has disbanded the coast guard dive team at Sea Island in Richmond.

The coast guard dive team provided a valuable service to people who were on the waters of the Georgia Strait which is one of the busiest waterways in the country. Shortly after the dive team was disbanded a young man died who may have been saved if that dive team had have been in place. The petitioners call upon parliament to reinstate the coast guard dive team.

[Janko Peric, Liberal, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the privilege to present to the House a petition from hundreds of concerned constituents in my riding of Cambridge. They wish to draw to the attention of the House that Canadian health care workers are often forced to participate in practices and procedures that are against their deeply held ethical beliefs. These health care providers experience discrimination and have no recourse to protect themselves.

The petitioners call upon parliament to enact legislation recognizing the freedom of conscience of health care workers by protecting health care providers from participating in procedures that are against their conscience.

[Ted White, Canadian Alliance, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today from Elizabeth Crowther and 111 other residents of North Vancouver. They urge the Government of Canada to enact legislation explicitly recognizing the freedom of conscience of health care workers.

They call upon parliament to prohibit the coercion of and unjust discrimination against health care workers because of their refusal to participate in matters contrary to the dictates of their consciences and to establish penalties for such coercion and unjust discrimination.

[John Harvard, Liberal, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present to the House. One is from dozens of Winnipegers who are concerned about Bill C-16, the charities registration act, which they feel violates fundamental freedoms and makes a fair and transparent trial impossible.

The petitioners call upon parliament to make certain and significant changes to the bill before it is passed.

[John Harvard, Liberal, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition signed by a number of citizens from Winnipeg who are concerned about the high cost of heating fuels. They are particularly concerned about the price of natural gas, which they believe is creating a disincentive for people to buy homes and businesses and to continue operating businesses.

The petitioners call upon parliament to enact legislation to supplement the income of individuals receiving pensions to reflect the rising cost of natural gas in Canada.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to present a petition from citizens of Canada. They bring to the attention of the House that extended parental leave would only apply to parents of children born on or after December 31, 2000, and that parents of children born before that date would not have the same privileges as those born after that date.

The petitioners call upon parliament to bring extended parental leave into effect immediately so that parents of children born before December 31, 2000, could also benefit from it.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition signed by people from my riding of Pierrefonds—Dollars regarding the use of chemical pesticides.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to enact an immediate moratorium on the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides until such time as their use has been scientifically proven to be safe and the long term consequences of their application are known.

[Jim Gouk, Canadian Alliance, Kootenay—Boundary—Okanagan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present today. The first is from a group concerned about the divorce and child custody laws at this time.

The petitioners call upon parliament to implement a national strategy to create a non-adversarial marital separation code, the object of which would be to reduce tension and acrimony within divorce for the sake of the children.