Debates of Nov. 23rd, 2005

Petitions

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Discussions have taken place between all parties with respect to Bill C-385, an act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda) which received first reading on May 11, 2005. I hope to find consent for the following motion, “That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, Bill C-385 be deemed to have been read a second time, referred to committee of the whole, reported without amendment, concurred in at report stage, read a third time and passed”.

This is especially appropriate as in two weeks we will be marking the 14th anniversary of the massacre that took place at Montreal's l'École Polytechnique.

[The Speaker]

Does the hon. member for Etobicoke Centre have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have petitions on three subjects to present to the House today.

The first petition is with respect to an issue about which I am quite compassionate and that is ensuring there will be proper treatment for children suffering from autism spectrum disorder.

In the preamble the petitioners give a lengthy explanation of how early intervention treatment can assist in ensuring that children will not be trapped permanently in this terrible disease, but only if intervention occurs early enough. That requires that the Canada Health Act be amended in order that autism spectrum disorder early intervention treatment is covered.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition refers to the price of gas. The petitioners ask that the federal government exercise some restraint in charging GST on top of other taxes on gasoline at the pump.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask for the unanimous consent of the House to present the third petition because it was not submitted in the proper manner. It is a very long ribbon which would easily stretch to the end of the room and back. It has been signed by women from Smiths Falls and throughout Lanark County. This petition is against child pornography which we know is a very important issue. It was not submitted in the manner that would allow it to normally be accepted, but obviously the petitioners feel very passionate about this issue.

If there is unanimous consent, I would like to table this petition as well.

[The Speaker]

Does the hon. member for Lanark--Frontenac--Lennox and Addington have the unanimous consent of the House to table this petition?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

No.

[Dave Batters, Conservative, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

With due respect, a member offered a petition on a very serious subject and all members in their seats agreed to give consent for the tabling of that petition. A member opposite poked her head through the door of the lobby and screamed “no”. She was not in her seat at the time.

I would ask that you ask the question again, Mr. Speaker.

[The Speaker]

I stress that the Chair does not worry who is in his or her seat when asking for unanimous consent. A member may be sitting in some other seat or may be standing behind the curtain and yell “no”. This does happen. Members could be in the gallery and make the noise. They are still here.

I will put the question again. Is there unanimous consent for the tabling of this petition?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

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

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Greg Thompson, Conservative, St. Croix—Belleisle, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Here we go again. I have been on my feet a number of days in succession because the government refuses to answer questions on the order paper. The timeliness of this is very important. What is the government trying to hide? Why will it not answer those questions in relation to LNG? What is it trying to hide?

[The Speaker]

Is the hon. member suggesting that the time limit has been violated?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, we have been over this a number of times. The government is entirely within the 45 day period for all of the hon. member's questions.

Perhaps he should convince his colleagues to use part of question period to put this question instead of a point of order.

Motions for Papers

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, would you be so kind as to call Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers No. P-20, in the name of the hon. member for Kildonan—St. Paul.

That an Order of this House do issue for copies of all relevant documents pertaining to the government’s decision to deny the City of Winnipeg the ability to use infrastructure money on projects such as roads and bridges.

[Tony Valeri, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the matter be transferred for debate.

[The Speaker]

The motion is transferred for debate pursuant to Standing Order 97(1).

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

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

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.