Debates of Feb. 3rd, 2003

Petitions

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to present a petition from several thousand people across Ontario. They are making the point that the creation and use of child pornography is condemned by a clear majority of Canadians and that the courts have not applied the current child pornography law in a way which makes it clear that the exploitation of children will always be met with swift punishment. They are calling upon Parliament 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.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions. The first petition is on the subject of child pornography. The petitioners draw to the attention of the House that the creation and use of child pornography is condemned by a clear majority of Canadians and that the courts have not applied the laws in a way which protects children.

The petitioners call upon Parliament 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.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition has to do with the definition of marriage.

The petitioners bring to the attention of the House that marriage is the best foundation for families and for the raising of children and that the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman is being challenged on a number of fronts. The petitioners call upon Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as being a lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the final petition is with regard to stem cell research. The petitioners draw to the attention of the House that Canadians support ethical stem cell research but that non-embryonic stem cells, which are also known as adult stem cells, have shown significant research progress without the immune rejection or ethical problems associated with embryonic stem cell research.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to promote legislation which advocates support for adult stem cell research to find the therapies and cures necessary for Canadians.

[Betty Hinton, Canadian Alliance, Kamloops, Thompson And Highland Valleys, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to present a petition with the signatures of 6,320 Canadians in support of Project Guardian, protecting Canada's kids.

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of 5,043 Canadians who support Project Guardian in the protection of Canada's children against pedophiles, it is my pleasure to present this petition that calls on Parliament to enact legislation to establish a pedophile registry.

[Alex Shepherd, Liberal, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present two petitions today on behalf of my constituents.

In the first one the petitioners are concerned about the Canada Health Act. They want to ensure that the government protects the five principles of medicare in the Canadian Constitution to guarantee national standards of quality and publicly funded health care for every Canadian citizen as a right.

[Alex Shepherd, Liberal, Durham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition concerns possible amendments to sections 318 and 319 of the Criminal Code. The petitioners are calling upon Parliament to protect the rights of Canadians to be free to share their religious beliefs without fear of prosecution.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker]

Is it agreed?

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like some clarification from the parliamentary secretary.

I put questions on the Order Paper in December and we will remember the debate we had in the House on those particular questions in reference to Christmas. That was in December 2002. My office has not been notified as of today, but the parliamentary secretary did mention some questions that have been answered, but Mr. Speaker--

[The Speaker]

Order. The parliamentary secretary asked that certain questions be made orders for return. That is the question before the House.

Is it agreed to make them orders for returns?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 63

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

For the fiscal years 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001, from all departments and agencies of the government, including crown corporations and quasi/non-governmental agencies funded by the government, and not including research and student-related grants and loans, what is the list of grants, loans, contributions and contracts awarded in the constituency of Edmonton West, including the name and address of the recipient, whether or not it was competitively awarded, the date, the amount and the type of funding, and if repayable, whether or not it has been repaid?

Question No. 64

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

For the fiscal years 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001, from all departments and agencies of the government, including crown corporations and quasi/non-governmental agencies funded by the government, and not including research and student-related grants and loans, what is the list of grants, loans, contributions and contracts awarded in the constituency of Vancouver Quadra, including the name and address of the recipient, whether or not it was competitively awarded, the date, the amount and the type of funding, and if repayable, whether or not it has been repaid?

Question No. 65

[Cheryl Gallant, Canadian Alliance, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

For the fiscal years 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001, from all departments and agencies of the government, including crown corporations and quasi/non-governmental agencies funded by the government, and not including research and student-related grants and loans, what is the list of grants, loans, contributions and contracts awarded in the constituency of Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, including the name and address of the recipient, whether or not it was competitively awarded, the date, the amount and the type of funding, and if repayable, whether or not it has been repaid?

Question No. 66

[Rob Merrifield, Canadian Alliance, Yellowhead, AB]

For the fiscal years 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001, from all departments and agencies of the government, including crown corporations and quasi/non-governmental agencies funded by the government, and not including research and student-related grants and loans, what is the list of grants, loans, contributions and contracts awarded in the constituency of Prince Edward—Hastings, including the name and address of the recipient, whether or not it was competitively awarded, the date, the amount and the type of funding, and if repayable, whether or not it has been repaid?

Question No. 67

[Scott Reid, Canadian Alliance, Lanark—Carleton, ON]

For the fiscal years 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/2001, from all departments and agencies of the government, including crown corporations and quasi/non-governmental agencies funded by the government, and not including research and student-related grants and loans, what is the list of grants, loans, contributions and contracts awarded in the constituency of Ottawa South, including the name and address of the recipient, whether or not it was competitively awarded, the date, the amount and the type of funding, and if repayable, whether or not it has been repaid?

(Returns tabled)

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. My question was strictly in terms of the response time of the government on all standing questions. We in the opposition have difficulty because we are only allowed a certain number of questions and when they are held up by the government, it restricts our ability to do our job. Why is there a delay in answering questions that have been on the Order Paper for over 30 days?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have been seeking faster action from departments on some of the questions that have been received. In some cases the questions require documentation that is of an inordinate quantity. As we saw last week, there was an answer tabled that consisted of three boxes. We are seeing quite a number of these kinds of questions. With all the questions that are being asked and all the details that are being sought, the departments are finding that a period of 45 days tends to be a very short time, particularly when one considers that it was over the Christmas holidays.

I can assure members that every effort is being made by me and others to obtain the answers as quickly as possible.

[The Speaker]

Is it agreed that the remaining questions be allowed to stand?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-20, an act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Criminal Code

[The Speaker]

I wish to inform the House that because of the ministerial statement, government orders will be extended by 11 minutes.

On questions and comments, the hon. member for Surrey Central.