Debates of Dec. 6th, 2012

Justice and Human Rights

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #577

Committees of the House

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

I declare the motion carried.

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, could I have the consent of the House to return to presenting reports from committees? I inadvertently missed the opportunity earlier today.

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

Does the member have unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

Justice

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have signatures from numerous constituents of Winnipeg North who are asking the government to take seriously the issue of preventing youth from participating in gangs. The petitioners are asking for support for effective crime prevention programs that would prevent crimes from happening, like programs that would focus on steering young children away from associating with gangs or gang activities.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to present two petitions on behalf of the Kalmring family and many constituents in my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla.

Lynn Kalmring was a loving mother, sister, daughter and friend to all who loved her. Lynn's life was tragically taken from her in a senseless and brutal act of domestic violence.

These petitions call for action and changes to the Victims' Bill of Rights and for procedural changes to processing and bail proceedings. These petitions remind us of the need to take action against gender-based violence and to put the interests of the victim and of the victim's family before those who commit such heinous acts. Let us have justice for Lynn.

National Capital Act

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by many of my constituents, asking that my bill on the national capital park be passed. As I mentioned, I have a number of petitions and I hope that the House will support my bill.

International Co-operation

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I rise today to table a petition on behalf of many Ottawa residents.

The petitioners are deeply concerned about and call on the government to direct aid to support girls' education in Pakistan.

I am pleased to table this petition on their behalf.

Rights of the Unborn

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to table a petition from constituents in my riding of Selkirk—Interlake.

The petitioners ask the House of Commons to amend section 223 of the Criminal Code to ensure that the definition of when a fetus becomes a human reflects 21st century medical science.

National Capital Act

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this morning I have the honour to present a petition from many people in support of legislation giving Gatineau Park the necessary legal protection to preserve it for future generations.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have two sets of petitions to table this morning.

The first set of petitions include literally hundreds of signatures primarily from first nations people across Saskatchewan. The petitioners protest the provisions in Bill C-45 that specifically discriminate against aboriginal people.

They call upon Parliament to change its mind with respect to the aboriginal provisions contained, they believe wrongly, in Bill C-45.

Historical Sites

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the second group of petitions, 22 of them, come from literally thousands of people mostly across Saskatchewan and some from outside of the province.

The petitioners protest the downsizing of the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site. They believe that site, which stretches back to the early agricultural history of Saskatchewan, is absolutely fundamental to the province and Canada.

They call upon the Government of Canada to maintain full funding for the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site.

KAIROS

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

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today. The first is a petition on behalf of residents of Peterborough and other parts of Ontario.

The petitioners implore the government to restore funding to the group KAIROS, as KAIROS is renowned worldwide as Canada's most respected faith-based development and human rights group and has received funding from CIDA for over 35 years and that funding should continue.

Experimental Lakes Area

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

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is with regard to the Experimental Lakes Area. Petitions continue to pour in on this issue.

The petitioners from Winnipeg and across Manitoba ask the government to restore the funding cuts for the Experimental Lakes Area, the most famous and important ecosystem research station in the world.

Rights of the Unborn

[Jim Hillyer, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions.

The first petitions call on Parliament to re-examine the definition of when human life begins.

Sex Selection

[Jim Hillyer, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls on Parliament to condemn the practice of discrimination through sex selective abortions.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present to the House today.

The first is from a number of concerned Canadian citizens who want the Government of Canada to re-evaluate the northern gateway pipeline. The petitioners feel that it threatens the well-being of communities of people and habitats of animals. The pipeline would go through over 1,000 rivers and streams, which are key to the survival of salmon and the unique spirit bears and other species.

The petitioners therefore request that the Government of Canada not approve the Enbridge northern gateway pipeline, not allow it to be built and make stricter environmental regulations in regard to such pipeline.

Old Age Security

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

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from a number of citizens who are very concerned about the changes to old age security because the change from age 65 to 67 hurts the poorest seniors in this country. It effectively removes $12,000 from the pockets of the average senior and contributes to senior poverty.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to therefore maintain the age of eligibility for OAS at 65 and make the required investments in the guaranteed income supplement to lift every Canadian senior out of poverty.

Trent-Severn Waterway

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition on behalf of residents of the province of Ontario.

The petitioners wish to draw the attention of the House to the fact that financial cuts to the Trent-Severn Waterway will have several adverse effects on the system that include: reduced recreational boating; drinking water systems being affected by lower and higher water levels; important first nations archeological discoveries being lost; fish populations being affected by the new development and possibly more invasive species entering the ecosystem, just to name a few.

They therefore ask that no cuts be made to this important water system.

Sex Selection

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to rise and present a petition on behalf of members of St. Anne's Catholic Church in my riding of Brampton West.

The petitioners state that preventing the birth of baby girls through sex selective abortions is an affront to the dignity and the equality of women and girls.

The petitioners therefore call upon the House of Commons to condemn discrimination against girls through sex selective abortion and to do all it can to prevent sex selective abortions from being carried out in Canada.