Debates of April 28th, 2004

Petitions

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present three petitions today. The first petition is on the subject matter of marriage. The petitioners would like to point out that marriage is the best foundation for families and the raising of children.

They call upon Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

The second petition, Mr. Speaker, is on the matter of the notwithstanding clause.

The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that, on June 10, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that same sex couples must have the legal right to marry on the basis of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and our constitutions. However, they also point out that under the Constitution, section 33, the federal government may invoke the notwithstanding clause to override the charter.

The petitioners, therefore, call upon Parliament to invoke the notwithstanding clause, if necessary, so that only two persons of the opposite sex can be married.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the last petition is with regard to a matter on which I spent two years, stem cell research.

The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that Canadians support ethical stem cell research which has already shown encouraging potential, and that non-embryonic stem cells, which are also known as adult stem cells, have shown significant research progress without the immune rejection of ethical problems associated with embryonic stem cells.

The petitioners, therefore, call upon Parliament to focus its legislative support on adult stem cell research to find the cures and therapies to treat the illnesses and diseases of suffering Canadians.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very honoured and pleased to present several hundred more names on a petition sponsored by the United Church of Canada as part of its Beads of Hope Campaign.

The petitioners are obviously very concerned about the global HIV-AIDS pandemic. They call upon Parliament and the government to better address the root causes of the pandemic and to act with others based upon this understanding.

Specifically, they call upon the government to cancel multilateral debts of impoverished countries, to cancel bilateral debts that developing countries owe to Canada, to increase Canada's official development assistance to meet the goal of 0.7% of gross national income, to ensure that patents for trade-related and intellectual property rights do not block access to public goods like life-saving medicine, and finally, to double funding for the federal government's domestic program, the Canadian strategy on HIV-AIDS, to address this concern in Canada.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of presenting a petition signed by constituents of my riding of Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to recognize the institution of marriage as being a lifelong union of one man and one woman. They call upon Parliament to do whatever is necessary to preserve the traditional meaning of marriage in Canada.

[John O'Reilly, Liberal, Haliburton—Victoria—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the pleasure to present various petitions from people in Haliburton and area.

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.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today to present a petition entitled, “Give Me Representation”.

This petition is from residents of Ottawa Centre who are calling upon the federal government to immediately call an election for Ottawa Centre. Back on September 8, 2003, the former prime minister appointed that member to the Senate and they are without representation.

I might add that it is my privilege to introduce this petition because our candidate for Ottawa Centre is none other than Mr. Ed Broadbent, a very much respected member of our community.

[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 Wyoming and in Wallaceburg. 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.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have another petition to present on behalf of the constituents living in Grand Bend. The petitioners call upon Parliament to protect the health of seniors and children and save our environment by banning the disputed gas additive MMT, as it creates smog and enhances global warming.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Roger Gallaway, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 11, 56, 60 and 72 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 11

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

With regard to programs and all other special expenditures for aboriginals in Delta—South Richmond, what was the total expenditure by department for fiscal years 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and thus far in 2003-2004 for each band or aboriginal organization?

Return tabled.

Question No. 56

[John Duncan, Canadian Alliance, Vancouver Island North, BC]

With regard to the Southern Chiefs Organization in Manitoba, how much and what type of funding has the government provided, for each fiscal year since the organization's inception?

Return tabled.

Question No. 60

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

In regard to climate change: ( a ) besides Environment Canada, what other federal government departments have climate action programs and at what annual cost are they funded; ( b ) is funding for these programs by journal-voucher from Environment Canada or is it part of departmental operating funds; ( c ) why did the federal government stop funding the joint project “National Museum of Natural Sciences Project on Climatic Change in Canada During the Past 20,000 Years”; ( d ) what happened to the plan to set up weather data archives in Downsview, including a national registry of tree ring and other proxy data; ( e ) which non-governmental climate scientists, and exactly when, have Environment Canada sponsored to send to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or any other climate conference; ( f ) what fully refereed scientific papers have Henry Hengeveld and David Philips had published in peer-reviewed scientific literature; ( g ) when were they published; ( h ) what groups and individuals were given financial assistance, by Environment Canada or any other department, agency or Crown corporation, including funds for research, staffing, travel, meals (including alcoholic beverages) and accommodation to attend or present at the cross-Canada climate change secretariat stakeholder consultations held in the fall of 2002; ( i ) what groups and individuals were given financial assistance by Environment Canada or any other department, agency or Crown corporation, including funds for research, staffing, travel, meals (including alcoholic beverages) and accommodation to attend or present before the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development during the past five years; ( j ) which scientists have presented climate science-related testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development during the past five years; ( k ) when have environmental lobby group members, including David Suzuki, met with the Prime Minister or any members of his cabinet since 1993; and ( l ) which non-governmental climate scientists have met with the Prime Minister or any members of his cabinet since 1993?

Return tabled.

Question No. 72

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

For the fiscal years 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 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 grants, loans, contributions and contracts have been awarded in the constituency of West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, including the name and address of each recipient, whether or not each was competitively awarded, the date, the amount and the type of funding, and, if repayable, whether or not it has been repaid?

Return tabled.

Starred Questions

[Roger Gallaway, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if Starred Question No. 83 could be made an order for return, the return would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

*Question No. 83

[Guy St-Julien, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC]

With respect to the government’s budget results concerning revenues from employment insurance contributions and expenditures on employment benefits: ( a ) what are the actual surpluses and deficits for each fiscal year since 1980; and ( b ) for these same years, what are the results for the Province of Quebec?

Return tabled.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that Question No. 11 is to be answered. I appreciate that the parliamentary secretary, as he said last time, undertook to determine the terms and processes, obviously on this one.

I have three other questions outstanding. The first one was Question No. 13 from February 2, which was asked way back last September. I know a response has been prepared. I also have Question No. 17 and Question No. 80, which is an important question to deal with the availability of nautical charts. It is of critical importance that question be answered.

When could we expect an answer to Questions Nos. 13, 17 and 80?

[Roger Gallaway, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, once again I will make inquiries, although I must again say that questions posed last September are of no consequence here. However, I will make inquiries.

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

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions for Papers

[Roger Gallaway, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the 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?