House of Commons Hansard #57 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was seniors.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to six petitions.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have two reports to table today. Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation in the standing committee meeting of the Secretaries of Delegations held in The Hague, Netherlands from March 28 to March 30, 2008.
Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation in the standing committee meeting of the Secretaries of Delegations held in Vilnius, Lithuania from April 4 to April 6, 2009.
Peter Goldring Conservative Edmonton East, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament regarding the main estimates.
Rodney Weston Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in relation to the Atlantic lobster fishery and the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation.
Shawn Murphy Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following reports of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts: the eighth report on the 2009-10 main estimates, vote 15 under Finance; the ninth report on chapter 7, ”Detention and Removal of Individuals—Canada Border Services Agency”, of the May 2008 report of the Auditor General of Canada; and the 10th report on chapter 1, “Management of Fees in Selected Departments and Agencies”, of the May 2008 report of the Auditor General of Canada.
Francine Lalonde Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-384, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity).
Mr. Speaker, the time has come for this Parliament to find a way to decriminalize medical assistance in dying, which is of such vital importance to those whose suffering can no longer be relieved except by this ultimate compassion.
In recent years, the parliaments of three countries in the European Union, as well as two states in the U.S., have enacted legislation which allows physicians under certain circumstances—the express request of terminally ill patients being one of them—to help certain persons die.
Serious research into the application of this legislation and their very specific criteria clearly shows that the greatest fear expressed in this Parliament some years ago, abuses and the hypothetical slippery slope, has not in any way become reality. A remarkable progression has taken place in public opinion concerning the need for such a law. Increasingly, people believe that they should have the right to choose, when the time comes.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-385, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (computer virus programs).
Mr. Speaker, my bill, which is also known as anti-cyber attack, would change section 342.2 of the Criminal Code so as to clarify that the creation, sale and possession of a computer virus program for the purpose of committing a computer offence or mischief is an offence in Canadian law.
Cyber attacks constitute a real threat to Canadian security, Canadian businesses and Canadians' privacy.
Cyber attacks are offences against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and computer systems or networks. In other words, we are talking about hacking, spreading bought computer viruses and denial of service attacks.
Canada lags behind all of the members of the G8 as far as our legal recourses are concerned.
Canadian law enforcement organizations have been calling for this kind of legislation and my bill would fill the gaps in the Criminal Code.
My bill also takes into account the concerns of the telecommunications industry that recommended that any legislation dealing with cyber attacks make clear that criminal intent is necessary and my bill includes just a provision.
I hope that all hon. members in this House will support this bill, and I also hope that it will be discussed in second and third readings, in committee, and at report stage.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Business of SupplyRoutine Proceedings
Prince George—Peace River B.C.
Conservative
Jay Hill ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among all parties and I believe you would find consent for the following motion. I move:
That, during the debate on May 14, 2009, on the Business of Supply pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be received by the Chair and, within each 15-minute period, each party may allocate time to one or more of its members for speeches or for questions and answers, provided that, in the case of questions and answers, the minister's answer approximately reflect the time taken by the question, and provided that, in the case of speeches, members of the party to which the period is allocated may speak one after the other.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Does the hon. government House leader have to unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition sent to me by hundreds of people from the Toronto, Ontario area concerning abortion.
The petitioners want to draw to the attention of Parliament that Canada is a country that respects human rights and includes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which entails that everyone has the right to life. They also point out that it has been over 40 years, since May 14, 1969, when Parliament changed the law to permit abortion and since January 28, 1988, Canada has no law to protect the lives of the unborn child.
Therefore, the petitioners call upon the Parliament of Canada to pass legislation for the protection of human life from the time of conception until natural death.
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition on behalf of the residents of South Surrey, other parts of Surrey, White Rock, Richmond, Vancouver and Langley related to the NAV CANADA and the Canada civil air navigation system.
The petitioners are seeking greater input into the decision-making process as it relates to air space changes. I call the attention of the House to the fact that they are calling upon the federal government to revisit the legislative framework of NAV CANADA to ensure that proper consultation takes place with affected communities and residents before air space changes are commenced.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition in favour of the adoption of a universal declaration on animal welfare.
I present this petition on behalf of all of the people who have signed this, the World Society for the Protection of Animals in my riding.
James Moore Conservative Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, this is a petition that was put together by a constituent of mine who works very hard and has a great deal of concern about the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka.
It calls on the government to pay particular attention and to put in place a process that would see a speedy end to the crisis there.
I thank my constituent for the hard work that was put into this petition. I see signatures that were gathered from all over the Lower Mainland. Our government is listening to the principles behind this petition and we are taking action.
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to present three petitions.
The first petition is from students in east Vancouver at the Stratford Hall International Baccalaureate World School. They have collected signatures drawing attention to the fact that the Canadian government should actively support a UN war crime investigation on the Israeli air strike against the UN school that took place January 6, 2009, and the further strike against the UN headquarters and the use of white phosphorous in densely populated civilian areas of Gaza.
They call upon the House of Commons to support a war crime investigation against these Israeli air strikes.
The second petition has been collected by residents in Toronto who are connected with the Women in Solidarity with Palestine and the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network. They draw attention to the fact that the Canadian government has failed to condemn Israel's clear violation of international law and war crimes in Gaza.
They urge the Government of Canada to immediately undertake a change in its position regarding the Middle East and to initiate concrete action to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law.
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, the third petition is signed by residents in east Vancouver who are concerned about the need for fair tax treatment to small retailers.
They request Parliament to change the tax laws to allow small and medium sized businesses to compete on a more level playing field with large retail cooperatives, such as Mountain Equipment Coop, and specifically request that Parliament change the tax laws that allow cooperatives to avoid paying corporate income tax through patronage dividends paid out as non-cash sales.
Shawn Murphy Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to present a petition regarding the ongoing humanitarian abuses that are taking place in Darfur. I am pleased to present this petition on behalf of Canadians for Action in Darfur.
Since 2003, over 400,000 people have been killed and millions have been displaced. Atrocities like this should not take place. As a peacekeeping nation, it is our responsibility to take the lead in the abolishment of the despair, kidnapping and death currently plaguing this region.
I am proud to present this petition to the government with the hope that the government will encourage and participate in all necessary measures to end this crisis once and for all.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to present, on behalf of my constituents from Vegreville—Wainwright, a petition which notes that the Conservative government was elected with a strengthened mandate to govern this country through the economic crisis; that the opposition are looking to impose an unstable, unelected coalition of Liberal, NDP and separatists; and that Canadians have the democratic right to choose their government and not to have a surprise prime minister chosen through an unseemly and undemocratic backroom deal.
The petitioners, therefore, call upon this House to oppose any political arrangement that would replace Her Majesty's democratically elected government without first consulting Canadians through a democratic election.
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to stand in this House as the member of Parliament for Churchill representing northern Manitoba. I stand here to present petitions signed by hundreds of northern Manitobans, people from Thompson, Flin-Flon, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, The Pas, Mosakahiken Cree Nation, Herb Lake Landing, Easterville, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, as well as people from northern Saskatchewan.
These northern Manitobans are voicing their opposition to the possible closure of the only radio station in northern Manitoba based in Thompson, CBC North Country. CBC North Country has had an illustrious 30 year history. If CBC North Country closes, the north and most of Manitoba will lose its voice and the chance to share important news, community events and important weather information.
The petitioners are asking that the Government of Canada fulfill its duty and provide necessary support for the CBC, Canada's public broadcaster. They call on the government to ensure that CBC North Country continues to be there for northern Manitobans.
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition from residents of Don Valley West and other parts of the greater Toronto area in support of the universal declaration of animal welfare. They petition the government to be a signatory to that document. It reminds us that animals provide both livelihood for many Canadians and people around the world, as well as companionship.
Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 2, 103, 104 and 105 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled immediately.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Is it the pleasure of the House that Questions Nos. 2, 103, 104 and 105 be made orders for return?