Debates of May 4th, 2005

Petitions

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to rise in the House to present three petitions. The first one draws attention to the plight of children suffering from autism spectrum disorder and the need for intensive behavioural intervention. The petitioners call upon the government to amend the Canada Health Act.

It is signed by many petitioners in Vancouver, including Holly Hendrigan who has done a lot of work on this issue.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from members of the congregation and friends of St. Thomas Wesley United in Saskatoon who support equal marriage. The petitioners say that it would create uniformity of marriage laws across Canada and respect the Charter of Rights.

They call upon Parliament to defend same sex couples to civil marriage.

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is from people in east Vancouver who are very concerned and want to draw to the attention of the House the affordable housing crisis in the country.

The petitioners call upon the federal government to dedicate 1% of the next federal budget to affordable housing.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to rise in the House and present a petition from four different areas of the constituency of Souris—Moose Mountain.

The petitioners ask that Parliament define marriage in federal law as being a lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. They point out that it is the best foundation for families and for the raising of children.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present on marriage. The petitioners call upon Parliament to maintain the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.

[Norman Doyle, Conservative, St. John's North, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first petition is on behalf of several hundred of my constituents who are horrified by pornography which depicts children and are astounded by legal determinations that possession of this pornography in some cases is not even criminal.

The petitioners ask that Parliament to take all measures necessary to ensure that possession of child pornography remains a serious criminal offence.

[Norman Doyle, Conservative, St. John's North, NL]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is also on behalf of several hundred of my constituents who say that the majority of Canadians support a democratic government where elected members of Parliament represent the voice of Canadians in matters of social policy.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation to uphold and protect the current definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitioners to present today. The first two petitions are from residents of Scarborough, Pickering and Markham. The petitioners regret that the courts have changed the definition of marriage.

They call upon Parliament to redefine marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my third petition is from constituents in east Toronto, including Scarborough. The petitioners call upon Parliament to increase quotas for sponsored parents under the Immigration Act and to reduce processing times for those sponsored parents.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition on behalf of several hundred of my constituents asking that the House maintain the traditional definition of marriage as the union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House today to present petitions from across the country in support of my private member's Bill C-420, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act.

Bill C-420 is now being studied by the Standing Committee on Health, and I am proud and humbled by the support I have received to date in my efforts to give Canadians greater choice in personal health care.

[Bob Mills, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a number of petitions. The first several thousand signatures are on a petition asking that Parliament recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

[Bob Mills, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second set of petitions asks Parliament to withdraw its proposal to ban many kinds of fishing tackle containing lead.

[The Deputy Speaker]

The time allocated for petitions has expired. It is possible to table petitions with the table. I encourage members to consider that option as well.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

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

Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 115 and 116 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 115

[Rob Anders, Conservative, Calgary West, AB]

For each year since 2000, how much money has been spent on taxi chits, and how many were used and by which departments, agencies, and Crown corporations?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 116

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

What information has the government gathered about the Canada Steamship Lines’ ship the Ferbec and what if any conclusions do government reports draw about this ship?

(Return tabled)

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

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

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions for Papers

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

Mr. Speaker, I move that all notices of motions for the production of papers be also allowed to stand.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.