Debates of Oct. 1st, 2010

Criminal Code

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-576, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (personating peace officer).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill to amend the Criminal Code. My bill would establish that impersonating a police officer for the purpose of committing another offence shall be considered by a court to be an aggravated circumstance for sentencing purposes.

My bill seeks to preserve the trust and respect for authority that we have for peace officers and to increase penalties for those who breach that trust to cause harm.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Procedure and House Affairs

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Madam Speaker, I move that the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House this day be concurred in.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

(Motion agreed to)

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

I would like to advise members that during petitions I will be very strict in ensuring that the presentation is very short given the time limits that we are facing today.

The hon. member for Labrador.

Employment Insurance

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Madam Speaker, I am proud to present a petition today on behalf of my constituents in the communities of Port Hope, Simpson, Norman Bay, Red Bay, Charlottetown, St. Lewis, Goose Bay and Pensons Arm who call for a common sense approach to EI by extending the benefit period and reinstating the five weeks of additional benefits in high unemployment areas. They say that we should renew the best 14 weeks. They also say that they should be allowed to continue to earn up to 40% of the EI benefits. This helps the unemployed, the employers and the economy.

Preventive Withdrawal

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition signed by 891 people who want the government to make Quebec women governed by the Canada Labour Code eligible for preventive withdrawal.

Pension Plans

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today signed by hundreds of people who attended my Canada Day barbecue this past July.

As members know, it is currently possible for someone convicted of killing his or her spouse to collect CPP survivor benefits and/or the death benefit. It is also currently possible for someone convicted of killing his or her spouse to collect survivor benefits and/or the death benefit under CPPD.

However, it is a long established principle in law that no one should be able to benefit from the commission of a crime and that principle must be enshrined in the eligibility criteria for government benefit programs.

The petitions are simply asking that the Parliament of Canada pass my bill, Bill C-527, which would amend the Canada pension plan to prohibit the payment of the survivor's pension, orphan's benefit or death benefit--

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.

Copyright Act

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition signed by people from across Canada, from Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa and Waterloo, calling on parliamentarians to maintain the balance in the upcoming Copyright Act, the balance between the rights of creators and the general public, the people who are using the cultural products. Specifically, they are concerned about the use of technological protection measures, software that overrides the rights that Parliament will give to citizens to ensure there is a full balance in copyright and to ensure that when we have the Copyright Act come before us that it is done with full consultation and involvement of the general Canadian public.

Veterans Affairs

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition signed by many people in my community who want the House of Commons to understand absolutely the essential nature of supporting our veterans so that we can ensure they have proper pensions and prevent their poverty.

The petitioners also demand that existing services, such as veterans hospitals, be mandated to serve modern day veterans, including the more than 200,000 members of the armed forces who have served in peacekeeping missions. They want Veterans Affairs to follow through on all the promises that it has made.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

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

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

It being 10:45 a.m., pursuant to order made Monday, September 27, 2010, this House stands adjourned until Monday next at 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 10:45 a.m.)