House of Commons Hansard #80 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was judiciary.
Gary Goodyear Conservative Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have two reports this morning.
Pursuant to Standing Order 113.(1) I have the honour to present the 21st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of the legislative committee on Bill C-27, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding dangerous offenders and recognizance to keep the peace.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Pursuant to Standing Order 113.(1) the report the member just tabled is deemed adopted.
Gary Goodyear Conservative Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations with all parties and I believe that if you were to seek it, there would be unanimous consent for the following motion. I move that the 20th report of the Standing Committee on Procedures and House Affairs, concerning the membership of committees of the House, presented to the House yesterday, be concurred in.
Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on International Trade.
In accordance with its order of reference of Wednesday, October 18, the committee has considered Bill C-24, An Act to impose a charge on the export of certain softwood lumber products to the United States and a charge on refunds of certain duty deposits paid to the United States, to authorize certain payments, to amend the Export and Import Permits Act and to amend other Acts as a consequence, and has agreed on Tuesday, November 7 to report it with amendments.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-381, An Act to amend the National Capital Act (appointments and meetings).
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my seconder, the hon. member for Sackville—Eastern Shore, for helping me with this important project, an act to amend the National Capital Act regarding appointments and public meetings.
For years now, people have asked for transparency and a public process for the appointment of people to the National Capital Commission. I am delighted to present this bill to bring democracy to the National Capital Commission and to ensure that we have a National Capital Commission of which we can all be proud. I hope that the government actually takes my bill and adopts it.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mario Silva Liberal Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to table petitions from across Canada protesting the incompetence and irrational cuts to adult literacy programs by the Conservative government.
It is my sad duty to present the first of several petitions which is from Haldimand—Norfolk, the HRSD minister's own riding. Hundreds of petitioners note the importance of literacy for social and economic development and the impact it has on our society. I stand with the citizens of Haldimand--Norfolk in calling for the reinstatement of literacy funding, since their own MP will not.
I also have the sad duty to present a petition from the Minister of Health's riding on the same subject. Hopefully, the minister will stand up for literacy programs.
Finally, I have the duty to present the same petition, this time from the Ontario Literacy Coalition. These people are on the front lines fighting for literacy. I am honoured to support their efforts, along with their call to government to reinstate funding, so they can keep doing their vital work.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions. The first one is a petition containing names from residents in my riding of York West and the surrounding GTA.
The petitioners recognize that religious persecution is an international crisis affecting many religious groups in countless countries of the world and that the persecution of groups for their religious beliefs is immoral, unjust and violates an individual fundamental right to religious freedom.
The petitioners call upon the federal government to develop an automatic array of interventions that may be imposed by Canada against foreign governments, such as Iraq, when they support religious persecution or fail to prevent it, and to improve measures for refugees who have suffered religious persecution.
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition on behalf of the constituents of St. John's, Newfoundland on the whole issue of literacy and the need for the reinstatement of funding to literacy programs that have been cut by the minority Conservative government, and to undertake a national literacy strategy to ensure that all Canadians have the opportunity to achieve this vital skill.
Paul Steckle Liberal Huron—Bruce, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege this morning to present, on behalf of constituents from the riding of Timmins—James Bay and the riding of St. John's South—Mount Pearl. The petitioners request that we look at the whole issue of literacy and the fact that the government recently cut funding for the literacy programs.
The petitioners would have us understand that the elimination of adult illiteracy is a key component in ensuring Canadian competitiveness in the global market as well as ensuring the quality of life of thousands of Canadians. They would call upon us to reinstate the funding to literacy programs cut by the Conservative government and undertake a national literacy strategy to ensure that all Canadians have the opportunity to achieve this vital skill.
Art Hanger Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present petitions from 612 individuals from my area of the country, which is in and around Calgary.
The petitioners, the undersigned citizens of Canada, would like to draw the attention of the House to the fact that the protection of our children from sexual predators must be a top priority of the federal government; that the Canadian Police Association, a number of provincial governments and a parliamentary committee report, all favour raising the age of consent; that the studies show that 14 and 15 year olds are most vulnerable to sexual exploitation, including recruitments from pimps; and that it is the duty of Parliament, through the enactment and enforcement of the Criminal Code, to protect the most vulnerable members of our society from harm.
These petitioners pray that this government, assembled in Parliament, take all measures necessary to immediately raise the age of consent from 14 to 16 years.
Stephen Owen Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to the House two petitions.
The first petition is from my constituents in Vancouver Quadra. Approximately 150 signatures were accumulated in a very short period of time in a small area of the constituency, which shows the potency of the concern that they are raising with this petition. Their concern is that Canadian Forces and other personnel in Afghanistan are put at some great risk as well as Afghan people. These petitioners ask Canada to remove its troops from Afghanistan.
Stephen Owen Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition relates to the national literacy programs and funding that was cut recently by the government. This comes from the citizens of Lethbridge who, I assume, are not pleased with the representation made on this matter by their Conservative member of Parliament.
However, they ask simply that these programs be returned and funded immediately, noticing that adult illiteracy can affect as much as 38% of the population, and has a huge impact on the social and economic development of individuals and their own quality of life as well as that of our country.
Shawn Murphy Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition signed by the constituents of the riding of Labrador. The petition expresses their outrage at the cuts to the literacy funding committed by the Conservative government.
The petition calls on the government to immediately reinstate this funding for what is an absolutely vital social service in Atlantic Canada. I do hope that the government will pay close attention to this and other petitions from around the country, and stop turning its back on Canada's most vulnerable people.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to table a petition from hundreds of Canadians calling upon Parliament to hold extensive public hearings to gather information, expert advice, and opinion from Canadian and Afghani citizens on how best to use military and other forms of Canadian involvement in Afghanistan for the creation of a stable, democratic and self-sustaining state.
The petitioners propose that following public hearings there be a full debate and vote in Parliament on the extent and nature of Canada's future commitments to Afghanistan.
Alan Tonks Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Mr. Speaker, on this National Literacy Day it is altogether appropriate that we present petitions from hundreds of Canadians who are reminding the government of how important are literacy programs. They add value to the capacity for Canadians to mainstream and become part of life here in Canada.
In my riding of York South--Weston, these programs are extremely fundamental to the community. We hope that the government will reconsider its intent to cut literacy programs. These petitions come from areas around Peterborough, Beamsville and St. Catharines.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, my petitioners note that in federal criminal law right now an unborn child is not recognized as a victim with respect to violent crimes. When Olivia Talbot of Edmonton was shot and killed in November 2005, her 27 week old unborn son Lane Jr. also died. Because there is no legal protection for unborn children today, no charge could be laid in the death of baby Lane.
The petitioners have indicated that studies show that violence against women often begins or escalates during pregnancy. Therefore, the petitioners are calling on Parliament to enact legislation which would recognize unborn children as separate victims when they are injured or killed during the commission of an offence against the mother, allowing two charges to be laid against the offender instead of one.
Ken Boshcoff Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from the people of Atikokan in the great riding of Thunder Bay--Rainy River protesting Prime Minister Harper's despicable, cruel and incompetent cuts to literacy which have--
The Deputy Speaker NDP Bill Blaikie
Order, please. The member should know that he cannot refer to the Prime Minister by his name, even in a petition.
Ken Boshcoff Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
--wreaked enormous damage to all the great work of the staff and volunteers of centres such at Atikokan's Literacy Centre.
The petitioners want the Conservatives to immediately reinstate this vital funding. They also understand that this would not have happened without the NDP supporting the Conservatives. The Conservatives just do not understand how important this is to people all over Canada.
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleagues by presenting a petition today.
Hundreds of constituents from northern Ontario, whether they are from the Sault, Timmins, Wawa or other parts of the region, call upon the government to reinstate funding for literacy programs. Far too often the most vulnerable in our society are left behind. Those adults who suffer from illiteracy need our attention and care.
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise on this being National Literacy Day.
I have the honour of presenting a petition from the residents of the riding of Labrador. The petitioners call upon Parliament to reinstate funding to literacy programs cut by the Conservative government and to undertake a national literacy strategy to ensure that all Canadians have the opportunity to achieve this vital skill.
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.
The first petition is from the people of St. John's suggesting that because literacy is so important for social and economic development, and because 38% of Canadians have difficulty in writing and reading, and because it costs Canada $10 billion a year because those people are illiterate, and because literacy is key for the competitiveness and quality of life in Canada, they would like the Conservative government to reinstate the funding that it cut to literacy programs. This petition is especially appropriate today as it is National Literacy Day.
The second petition I wish to present today is from the people of Iqaluit in Nunavut. They emphasize the fact that reading and writing is so important to people in their area for their social and economic development. There are many people who have difficulty reading and writing and it costs Canadians $10 billion. Reading and writing is key to the competitiveness and quality of life in Canada. It is absolutely essential, no excuse, that the Conservative government should reinstate the cuts it made to literacy programs. That would be very appropriate to do today on National Literacy Day.