Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present another petition from the petitions that keep flooding into my office in support of my Bill C-527. This time the petitioners are from Sauble Beach, the greater Hamilton area, and even as far away as P.E.I.
Right across this country Canadians are outraged that it is currently possible for someone convicted of killing his or her spouse to collect both survivor benefits and/or the death benefit under both CPP and CPPD.
All of these Canadians had justifiably assumed that it is a long-established principle in law that no one should be able to benefit from the commission of a crime. They believe that principle must be enshrined in the eligibility criteria for government benefit programs.
These petitioners have all endorsed my Bill C-527, which would amend the Canada pension plan to prohibit the payment of a survivor's pension, orphan's benefit or death benefit to a survivor or orphan of a deceased contributor if the survivor or orphan has been convicted of the murder or manslaughter of the deceased contributor. The petitioners are asking that the House pass this bill immediately.
Although I appreciate that it is inappropriate for members to endorse petitions, let me just say that I am delighted to be able to present this petition in the House today.