Debates of March 25th, 2011

Coast Guard Vessels

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Madam Speaker, the second petition, which is important, deals with the issue of the decommission of two Coast Guard vessels, one in my riding in Prince Rupert, where this petition comes from, and a second vessel on North Vancouver Island where the current member there once opposed this decommissioning.

I was speaking with Ronna-Rae Leonard just recently and she is opposing the decommissioning of the Point Race and will vehemently oppose the government's efforts to make the waters in British Columbia less safe by this action.

Wild Horse Border

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege today to present a petition on behalf of the citizens from my riding, as well as from across Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The petitioners request the government to make the Wild Horse border crossing a 24-hour commercial port of entry. We understand that the commercial traffic and traveller access at this point is not available. We need to have this for the economic contributions to Canada and the Canadian economy. This would further increase enhancing trading with the United States.

I am presenting this petition on behalf of the citizens of Medicine Hat.

Animal Welfare

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Madam Speaker, I pleased to present a series of petitions calling upon the Government of Canada to support Bill C-439, An Act to amend the Hazardous Products Act (products made with dog or cat fur), and ban products made with dog or cat fur from entering Canada.

This reflects a small portion of the representations made. We have had many thousands of postcards on this issue.

Guaranteed Income Supplement

[Gérard Asselin, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present in the House today a petition signed by hundreds of people. These people are calling for an increase to the guaranteed income supplement and for automatic enrollment in the program.

Aboriginal Healing Foundation

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Madam Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition signed by people from across Canada, from coast to coast to coast.

The petitioners decry the cut of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. They demand that the federal government stick to its word and fund healing programs for aboriginal communities.

Foreign Takeovers

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Madam Speaker, my second petition is on behalf of the people of Thompson and Manitoba. The petitioners ask the federal government to continue to work with stakeholders to put a stop to Vale's devastating announcement in our community. They ask the government to show real Canadian leadership and say no to foreign takeovers that are bad for our communities.

Poverty

[Ray Boughen, Conservative, Palliser, SK]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of 32 of my constituents on the subject of poverty reduction in Canada.

The petitioners are in support of Bill C-545, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada. I am proud to be part of a government that is working to create jobs and growth for all Canadians in order to allow them the opportunity to rise above poverty.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise and present a petition on behalf of 50 Nova Scotians, almost all of whom are residents of the Caritas Residence for Sisters of Charity at Mount Saint Vincent University.

These petitioners, one of whom I know very well, call upon Parliament to ensure swift passage of Bill C-545, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada.

Housing

[Nicolas Dufour, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Madam Speaker, as the representative for the riding of Repentigny, I am please to be presenting a petition asking the Government of Canada to transfer funds for low-income housing in Quebec.

Multiple Sclerosis

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to table today.

The first petition is on behalf of Canadians who want the government to take action in order that MS patients can have access to CCSVI treatment. Many petitions have been tabled in the House on this matter.

Disability Tax Credit

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Madam Speaker, the second petition is with respect to Canadians with a hearing disability. They want to ensure they are eligible to receive the disability tax credit.

Employment Insurance

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

Madam Speaker, for the final time in this Parliament, I am honoured to rise and present six petitions concerning the EI pilot projects.

Despite the mention in the budget, the petitioners from Twillingate, New West Valley, as well as Bonavista Peninsula, want permanency to the pilot projects, while working on claim and also best 14 weeks.

Guaranteed Income Supplement

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be presenting a petition in support of seniors signed by 122 people. They are calling on the government for real improvements in the guaranteed income supplement, the spouse's allowance and the survivor's allowance.

Disability Tax Credit

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise to present two petitions.

The first petition is to bring fairness to the disability tax credit to allow people with hearing impairments the full ability to claim the value of that credit.

Falun Gong

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Madam Speaker, the second petition calls upon the government to pressure the government of China to provide full human rights for practitioners of the Falun Gong faith.

Health

[Irwin Cotler, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in Mount Royal and beyond.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to recommit to protect the underlying principles of the Canada Health Act, to make the Canada Health accord a priority in the federal, provincial, territorial agenda and to ensure that all Canadians have access to the health care services when they need them.

Housing

[Robert Carrier, Bloc, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Madam Speaker, there is a serious shortage of social housing in Laval, but those who benefit from it would like to maintain their quality of life to some extent. That is why I am presenting a petition signed by 135 tenants of low-income housing in my riding who are worried about the repercussions of the fact that budget 2011 does not renew funding that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation needs to replace, repair and modernize low-income housing. The petitioners call upon the federal government to make the necessary public investment to enable the Société d'habitation du Québec to complete its low-income housing renovation plan.

Disability Tax Credit

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first is on the disability tax credit for the hearing impaired. The petitioners call upon the government to enact the disability tax credit.

Trade

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Madam Speaker, the second petition is about the European Union talks on fair trade rather than free trade. The petitioners call upon the government to enact fair trade agreements with the European Union.

Poverty

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of residents of Don Valley West and the city of Toronto in support of Bill C-545, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada. It is their desire to ensure that all Canadians have access to a full livelihood and a sense of grace and dignity in life.

Copyright

[Diane Bourgeois, Bloc, Terrebonne—Blainville, QC]

Madam Speaker, I am presenting a petition that follows the hundreds already presented by the Bloc Québécois on behalf of the people of Quebec regarding copyright. The petitioners call upon legislators to review Bill C-32, to bring it back to the spirit of the Copyright Act and to restore artists' legitimate rights.

Asbestos

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition signed by thousands of Canadians.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to take note that asbestos is the greatest industrial killer the world has ever known, that more Canadians die from asbestos than all other industrial causes combined. Yet they point out that Canada remains one of the largest producers and exporters of asbestos in the world.

Therefore, they call upon the Government Canada to ban asbestos in all of its forms, institute a just transition program for all asbestos workers who may be affected, end all government subsidies of asbestos both in Canada and abroad and stop blocking international conventions designed to protect workers from asbestos.

Poverty

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Madam Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise today to present a petition on behalf of the people of Kings—Hants in support of Bill C-545, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

I regret that the time for presenting petitions has elapsed.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I believe if you were to seek it, you would find unanimous consent to extend petitions for a few more minutes so other members can get their petitions tabled today. It is a usual practice in the House.