House of Commons Hansard #170 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was amendments.

Topics

Terminator Seed TechnologyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions from constituents in my riding.

The first is a petition signed by some 510 people from my riding in regard to a ban on terminator technologies. These constituents come from Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, largely from Vancouver Island. They want Parliament to take note that terminator technologies or genetic use restriction technologies use genetic engineering to render seeds sterile at harvest and thus prevent farmers from saving and replanting seeds.

These petitioners take note that in March 2006 the United Nations convention on biological diversity was changed to strengthen the global moratorium, and they would like the Parliament of Canada to enshrine in legislation a permanent national ban on terminator technologies.

Labelling of PharmaceuticalsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is one to require labelling for acetaminophen. There are some 50 signatures here from people who are concerned that acetaminophen is the most common pharmaceutical involved in unintentional and intentional poisonings. They note that both acute and chronic overdose can lead to potentially fatal liver toxicity.

There are over 250 products that contain acetaminophen and the petitioners are asking that Parliament enact legislation requiring appropriate warning labels for this product in order to protect Canadians.

EqualizationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL

Mr. Speaker, I have the distinct honour of presenting to this House of Commons a petition on behalf of a gentleman named Steve Saunders of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It states that the undersigned residents of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador would like to draw to the attention of the House of Commons that during the last federal election a promise by the Prime Minister was not kept regarding the equalization formula.

It is an honour for me to present to this House no less than 20,000 signatures collected in what appears to be a short period of time. I may like to avail myself of some of our pages to help me with the reams of paper that I am in possession of, but it is indeed my honour to present these 20,000 signatures to the House.

Employment InsurancePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have before me a petition with approximately 250 signatures from CAW Local 127. They are calling for major changes to the Employment Insurance Act.

Summer Career Placement ProgramPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Bloc

Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present here today a second petition calling on the government to bring back the summer career placement program. These 74 names can be added to the 660 signatures that were presented on April 16, 2007.

The bungling that hindered budget allocations to the organizations that had applied is perfect proof that the new way of doing things and the Canada summer jobs program do not meet the needs of those organizations. Accordingly, the Conservative government should act responsibly by bringing back the summer career placement program, as called for by the petitioners.

Income TrustsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to defend this income trust broken promise petition on behalf of Bob Matwichuk of Calgary, Alberta, as of last night the home of Liberals, who remembers the Prime Minister boasting about his apparent commitment to accountability when he said, “There is no greater fraud than a promise not kept”.

The petitioners remind our Prime Minister that he promised never to tax income trusts and then recklessly broke that promise by imposing a 31.5% punitive tax, wiping out over $25 billion of the hard-earned retirement savings of over two million Canadians, particularly seniors.

The petitioners therefore call upon the government to: first, admit that the decision to tax income trusts was based on flawed methodology and incorrect assumptions; second, apologize to those who were unfairly harmed by this promise; and third, repeal the punitive 31.5% tax on income trusts.

I thank Mr. Matwichuk for his concern for all Canadians and their hard-earned savings.

RefugeesPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

Andrew Telegdi Liberal Kitchener—Waterloo, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition that relates to the fact that Canada has been a land of hope for newcomers and particularly for refugees. Canadians are proud of our multicultural society.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to welcome the stranger in need, to significantly increase the number of refugees that Canada accepts annually, to lift barriers that prevent refugees from reaching Canada, and to provide international leadership to address the causes that force people from their homes and prevent them from returning.

Employment InsurancePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce several petitions signed by several hundred people in my riding in northwestern British Columbia. They have identified that with a $51 billion surplus in the employment insurance fund since 1994, and with only half of the workers in Canada actually being able to qualify for this fund, the government should introduce the 28 recommendations from the standing committee, which were adopted by all parties.

A second set of petitions of several dozen to 100 names also asks the government to in effect partition the employment insurance jurisdiction in northern British Columbia, which seems, by the government's admission, to have inadvertently locked in areas that are doing extremely well economically and have less than 3% unemployment with areas that have in excess of 80% unemployment. It seems only fair.

Kyoto ProtocolPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, in my last set of petitions, consisting of several hundred if not close to several thousand signatures, the petitioners are demanding that the government live up to the Government of Canada's signature as a nation on the Kyoto protocol, and adhere to long and medium term targets that are identified in the protocol, as the government seems wont to do but is incapable of actually performing.

Criminal CodePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in order to present a petition on behalf of a group of residents of northern Ontario who are calling on Parliament to amend the Criminal Code as it pertains to human life in subsection 223(2).

I respectfully submit this petition to the Clerk of the House.

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of Miramichi I have two petitions to present pursuant to Standing Order 36.

The first petition, signed by hundreds of residents, expresses concern with the privatization of rural post offices and those in cities as well, and calls upon the government to desist the further privatization of post offices through Canada Post.

Veterans AffairsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a large number of residents, the second petition indicates concern that the veterans independence program has not yet been extended to the spouses of veterans and calls upon the government and the Minister of Veterans Affairs to do so as soon as possible.

Income TrustsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Jeff Malcolm of Woodstock, Ontario, I present a petition regarding the broken promise pertaining to income trusts.

Mr. Malcolm recalls that the Prime Minister was bragging about his so-called commitment to accountability when he stated that there is no greater fraud than a promise not kept.

The petitioners remind the Prime Minister that he promised never to tax income trusts but that he shamelessly broke his promise by imposing a punitive tax of 31.5%, which wiped out $25 billion that more than two million Canadians, mainly seniors, worked so hard to save for their retirement.

Therefore, the petitioners are calling on the government to do three things: first, to admit that the decision to tax income trusts was based on a flawed methodology and incorrect assumptions; second, to apologize to those who were unfairly harmed by this broken promise; third, to repeal the punitive 31.5% tax on income trusts.

Income TrustsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

The time for presenting petitions has expired.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 204 could be made an order for return, this return would be tabled immediately.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Is that agreed?

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Question No. 204Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC

With regard to detainee handling in Afghanistan: (a) at what time was Canada first granted formal access to Afghan monitor detention facilities in Kandahar; (b) how many Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) officers were in Kandahar in August 2005, and what was the number for each month since; (c) did CSC direct their officers to specifically monitor detainees taken by Canadians and held in Afghan custody, and, if so, what form did that direction take; (d) what type of investigation was begun by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces following the publishing of reports of torture in the Globe and Mail on Monday, April 23, 2007, and when was it commenced; (e) what is the number of detainees transferred to Afghan custody since the signing of the December 18, 2005, “Arrangement for the Transfer of Detainees Between the Canadian Forces and the Ministry of Defence of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan”; (f) following the processing of transfer documents and the release of a detainee to Afghan authorities, how are National Defence Headquarters, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and the Minister of National Defence informed of this transfer respectively; (g) when was information about the Department of Foreign Affairs country reports, starting in 2002, describing torture and inhumane treatment in Afghan prisons as “common”, first released outside of the Department and when were i) the current and previous Foreign Affairs Ministers made aware, ii) the current and previous Defence Ministers made aware, iii) the current and previous Prime Ministers made aware; (h) when were negotiations begun on the arrangement for monitoring access announced by the Minister of National Defence on Wednesday April 25, 2007, and i) when were negotiations concluded, ii) when was the CDS made aware of the arrangement, iii) when was the Minister of Foreign Affairs made aware of the arrangement, iv) when was the Prime Minister made aware of the arrangement; (i) what monitoring and capacity building has taken place on the part of the Government of Canada with respect to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC); and (j) what has the AIHRC reported to Canadian officials regarding the condition of prisons and prisoners in Kandahar, and what have they reported regarding the treatment of detainees transferred by Canada to Afghan custody?

(Return tabled)

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK

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

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Is that agreed?

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Motions for PapersRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

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

Motions for PapersRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Is that agreed?

Motions for PapersRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.