Debates of Dec. 12th, 2012

Road Safety

[Christine Moore, NDP, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to present a petition signed by people from across Canada calling for safety devices to be added to the sides of all large trucks and trailers in order to prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being injured or killed.

Historic Sites

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have two sets of petitions to file today, each of them involving thousands of signatures.

In the first case, the petitioners are arguing for the continuation of federal funding for the Motherwell Homestead in Saskatchewan, which is an important historical feature in our province.

Agriculture and Agri-food

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

The second petition calls upon the government to provide adequate funding for the Indian Head tree farm and the prairie shelterbelt program.

Genetically Modified Alfalfa

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to present this petition from British Columbians.

The petitioners point out that herbicide-tolerant, genetically modified alfalfa needs to be registered but has already been approved for human consumption and environmental release in Canada. The petitioners are concerned that genetically modified alfalfa is currently planted and that unwanted contamination from genetically modified alfalfa is inevitable.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to impose a moratorium--

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Vancouver East.

Animal Welfare

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have risen on numerous occasions to present petitions from people in Manitoba, Ontario and B.C. who are concerned that every year thousands of dogs and cats are brutally slaughtered for their fur. The petitioners point out that Canada should join the U.S.A., Australia and European countries in banning the import and sale of cat and dog fur and that it should support Bill C-296.

Human Trafficking

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present three petitions signed by dozens of Canadians, not only from Guelph in southern Ontario but from across Canada. The petitioners wish to register their concern regarding human trafficking, which poses a serious threat to some of Canada's most vulnerable citizens, including youth, females and first nations.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to address this matter by developing and implementing a national action plan regarding human trafficking.

Child Pornography

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to table today on the grave subject of the sexual exploitation of children, and in particular, on child pornography.

Motor Vehicle Safety

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition today on the very important topic of safety for both pedestrians and cyclists. The petitioners call upon the government to introduce regulations for side underrun guards for large trucks and trailers to prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being pulled under the wheels of these vehicles. As well, they are asking the government to harmonize Canadian vehicle safety standards with UNECE Regulation No. 73, which requires side guards on all trucks and trailers in Europe.

Dental Mercury

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a stack of petitions on the topic of dental mercury. The petitioners request that the government recognize that the World Health Organization recommends phasing out dental amalgam. They call upon the government to assume global leadership by recommending the phasing out of dental mercury and the phasing in of non-mercury alternatives, within Canada, at the next mercury treaty negotiations.

Sex Selection

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I too have a petition. The petitioners ask that the House condemn the discrimination against females that is occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

The Environment

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have four petitions. The first petition asks the Canadian government to set national carbon emission targets and a national renewable energy policy.

Parks Canada

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition asks the Government of Canada to not reduce the hours of operation of the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway.

Motor Vehicle Safety

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition asks the federal government to ensure that there are mandatory side guards on trucks and trailers to prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being pulled under heavy trucks.

Income Tax Act

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the fourth petition is with respect to unions. It asks for public disclosure legislation.

Road Safety

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, 37% of all collisions involving cyclists are fatal. Today I am presenting a petition calling for side guards to be added to trucks in order to protect cyclists.

Sex Selection

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from constituents who are concerned about gender selection because of ultrasounds that reveal the sex of a child. The petitioners are calling upon the House to condemn the discrimination against females that is occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

Human Rights

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition signed by all Vietnamese communities in Canada in support of human rights in Vietnam. The petitioners are calling on Canada to send special rapporteurs and ambassadors with the following objectives: to investigate arbitrary arrests; to urge Vietnam to release its political prisoners and conscientious objectors; and to persuade the Vietnamese government to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Visitor Visas

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am tabling a petition that asks that when visitor visas are being issued for weddings, graduations, birthdays, funerals and other family gatherings and family needs, they be given more consideration.

Sex Selection

[Stella Ambler, Conservative, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by people who are asking the House to condemn discrimination against females that occurs through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

Human Rights

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am tabling a petition signed by Canadians who are concerned about human rights in Vietnam. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to send special rapporteurs and embassy representatives to investigate the situation in Vietnam, to urge the Vietnamese government to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to urge the release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

Experimental Lakes Area

[Bruce Hyer, Independent, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition today from Winnipeg. Thousands of these continue to pour in. The petitioners are urging the government to reconsider and restore funding to the Experimental Lakes Area, which is an important source of research on the ecosystem of lakes.

Sex Selection

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition wherein the petitioners are pointing out that millions of girls have been lost through sex-selective abortion. They are calling upon the House to condemn the discrimination against females that is occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

Motor Vehicle Safety

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from people who are concerned about road safety for cyclists. The petitioners are asking the government to introduce a regulation requiring side underrun guards for large trucks and trailers to prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being pulled under the wheels of these vehicles.

Sex Selection

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians believe that sex selective pregnancy termination is morally wrong, but based on a recent poll, 92% of them believe that it should also be illegal. I have a petition from many Canadians across Canada asking that the government condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex selective pregnancy termination. I call upon members to support motion M-408.