House of Commons Hansard #13 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was board.

Topics

Remembrance Day National Flag ActRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Remembrance Day National Flag ActRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Divorce ActRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-245, an act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to once again introduce this bill.

Unfortunately, all too often in Canada our courts do not consider the best interests of the children in divorce rulings and grant sole custody only to one parent.

Shared parenting should not be awarded only under special circumstances but it should be granted under all circumstances except in cases of proof of abuse, neglect, mistreatment or if it is not in the best interests of the child. The bill would ensure both parents are put on an equal footing and reduce the likelihood of one parent denying the right of the other to see their children.

The Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access recommended legislation on shared parenting almost five years ago, yet to date the government has done nothing to help the children of divorced parents.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

3:50 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-246, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (child adoption expenses)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill that would amend the Income Tax Act to allow for the deduction of adoption expenses. This bill, if passed, will allow adoptive parents to deduct expenses related to adopting a child up to a maximum of $7,000 for that taxation year or the prior two years.

Adopting a child is an expensive and lengthy process. The bill would help encourage couples who would like to start a family by reducing the burden of additional costs incurred.

Since I first introduced the bill in February last year, I have received hundreds of letters and e-mails from people across Canada writing in support of the legislation. I ask that all parliamentarians support this worthy bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-247, an act to amend the Criminal Code (conditional sentencing)

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been living with conditional sentencing for about five years now. During that time the courts have handed down thousands of conditional sentences. This form of sentencing should be intended for relatively minor offences, however, the law does not outline where it may be used. As a result, many criminals received light sentences for crimes as serious as sexual assault, manslaughter, drunk driving and drug trafficking.

The B.C. Court of Appeal stated, in a decision regarding conditional sentencing, “If Parliament had intended to exclude certain offences from consideration, it should have done so in clear language”.

My bill clearly lays out circumstances where conditional sentencing may not be used by the courts for instances of such serious criminal offences.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Controlled Drugs and Substances ActRoutine Proceedings

October 23rd, 2002 / 3:55 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-248, an act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (trafficking in a controlled drug or substance within five hundred metres of an elementary school or a high school)

Mr. Speaker, I promise this is the last bill I will introduce today. I rise today to reintroduce a bill that would address drug trafficking near elementary and high schools. The bill seeks to set mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of trafficking in drugs within 500 metres of a school.

Implementing a drug-free zone around schools would obviously provide young Canadians with a safe school to learn and reduce drug usage by our youth. Drug traffickers, who specifically target children, should be faced with stiffer penalties under our laws. By deterring drug trafficking near schools, children will be provided with further protection against the influence of drugs.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise to seek unanimous consent that the report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs tabled in the House earlier this week be concurred in without debate.

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

The Speaker

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

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Janko Peric Liberal Cambridge, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition with 100 signatures from concerned constituents in my riding of Cambridge.

My constituents wish to bring to the attention of the House that a clear majority of Canadians condemn the creation and use of child pornography. Due to recent court decisions, the petitioners call upon Parliament to take all necessary steps to outlaw all materials that promote or glorify child pornography.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Maurice Vellacott Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Mr. Speaker, I have 2,250 signatures of petitioners who draw attention to the House that the creation and use of child pornography is condemned by the clear majority of Canadians.

Because the courts have not applied the current child law appropriately in meting out swift punishment, they call upon Parliament to protect their children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed. In other words, close the loophole, the sooner the better.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Julian Reed Liberal Halton, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition containing the names of over 100 citizens of the great riding of Halton and the surrounding area petitioning the government to protect our children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Maurice Vellacott Canadian Alliance Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Mr. Speaker, several hundred petitioners draw attention to the House that modern science has unequivocally and irrefutably established that human life begins at conception.

They therefore request that the government bring in legislation defining a human fetus or embryo from the moment of conception on, whether in the womb of the mother or not, and whether conceived naturally or otherwise as a human being, and making any and all consequential amendments to all Canadian laws as required.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition on behalf of the constituents living in Lambton--Kent--Middlesex who call upon Parliament to protect children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Norman E. Doyle Progressive Conservative St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition on behalf of several hundred people from across the country who are calling upon Parliament to immediately enact fair family law legislation which incorporates the presumption of equal shared parenting and children having a voice in divorce proceedings that affect them which is in the best and complete interests of children and incorporates their rights as decreed by the United Nations.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table three petitions today containing a total of 183 signatures from people across Canada who support a tax deduction for child adoption expenses.

These petitions are in support of my private member's bill that I reintroduced earlier today on child adoption deductions.

These Canadians, as well as the hundreds of people who have written me letters, passionately believe adoptive parents are confronted with significant financial burden and should be allowed a deduction for the expenses related to adopting a child.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Keith Martin Canadian Alliance Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions from citizens of Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca.

The first petition calls upon Parliament to protect children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Keith Martin Canadian Alliance Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition asks that the Coast Guard be an independent body, whose priority is the saving of lives, separate from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, with all the necessary resources for staffing and equipment, including a new hovercraft that will enable it to perform rescues of those in peril.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Rex Barnes Progressive Conservative Gander—Grand Falls, NL

Mr. Speaker, under Standing Order 36, I have a petition to present to the House of Commons with regard to the rights of the child having a voice in divorce proceedings. I present this before the House.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Liberal

Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour—Petitcodiac, NB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to the House a petition signed by over 100 residents of the riding of Beauséjour—Petitcodiac from the Tantramar region concerning child pornography.

They are calling upon Parliament to protect children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Paul Forseth Canadian Alliance New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today containing some 1,300 signatures.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to immediately enact fair family law legislation which incorporates a presumption of equal shared parenting and children having a voice in divorce proceedings that affect them and which is in the best and complete interests of children and incorporates their rights as decreed by the United Nations.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House a petition with 235 names calling upon Parliament to immediately enact family law legislation which incorporates a presumption of equal shared parenting and children having a voice in divorce proceedings that affect them and which is in the best and complete interests of children and incorporates their rights as decreed by the United Nations.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Darrel Stinson Canadian Alliance Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present today.

The first nine petitions, containing over 1,400 signatures, calls upon Parliament to condemn the creation and the use of child pornography. My constituents believe the courts have not applied the current child pornography law in a way which makes it clear that sex exploitation of children will always be met with swift punishment.

My constituents call upon Parliament to protect our children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify child pornography be outlawed.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Darrel Stinson Canadian Alliance Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition from my constituents calls upon Parliament to protect the rights of Canadians to be free to share their religious beliefs without fear of prosecution.