House of Commons Hansard #135 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was centre.

Topics

Business of SupplyRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

York—Simcoe Ontario

Conservative

Peter Van Loan ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

(Motion agreed to)

Rights of the UnbornPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

June 6th, 2012 / 3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present signed by a number of my constituents, mostly from the Lacombe, Blackfalds and Ponoka area.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to discuss an issue that is very near and dear to their hearts. They point out that Canada's 400-year-old definition of a human being says a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, contrary to 21st century medical evidence. They note that Parliament has a solemn duty to reject any law that says some human beings are not human.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as a human by amending section 223 of our Criminal Code.

Community Access ProgramPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a petition on behalf of many Ottawa residents who are deeply disturbed by this issue. They urge the government to reinstate funding to the community access program.

Quite unbelievably and sadly, the Conservative government is disconnecting Canadians from their communities, from business opportunities and from government services. It is shutting people out of the online conversations that are shaping our society and that we have all come to count on.

I am pleased to table this petition on behalf of my constituents.

DNA DatabasesPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Ray Boughen Conservative Palliser, SK

Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour of presenting three petitions that are very similar in intent and indicate strong support for a DNA databank. In fact, these petitions have a total of 7,816 signatures. The petitioners agree that the families of missing persons deserve to know the fates of their loved ones, and a DNA identification databank would be a crucial tool toward reaching that goal.

One petition calls upon Parliament to enact legislation to create a missing persons index and victim index.

The second and third petitions call upon Parliament to create a DNA missing persons database and an unidentified human remains database, which would link with the existing national DNA database.

Child NutritionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to present this petition regarding access to healthy food, which is critically important for a child's development but is often limited for Canadian children who live in poverty. Child and youth nutrition programs are cost-effective ways to encourage the development of lifelong healthy eating habits, support Canadian farmers and food producers in the development of local markets and reduce future health care costs.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to provide national leadership and support for child and youth nutrition programs from the ministries of health and agriculture and to develop partnerships with farmers, food producers, et cetera to stimulate economic development.

As Buzz Aldrin says, “If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger”.

Rights of the UnbornPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present a number of petitions on a related subject close to my heart.

First, I present a petition from residents of the riding of Burlington who begin by saying that whereas Canada's 400-year-old definition of a human being says a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, contrary to 21st century medical evidence, and whereas Parliament has a solemn duty to reject any law that says some human beings are not human, they therefore call upon the House of Commons and Parliament assembled to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending section 223 of our Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect 21st century medical evidence.

The second petition is from constituents in the riding of Westlock—St. Paul. In substantially the same terms, it also suggests to the House that human rights are universal and that every human being's human rights should be recognized, and it calls upon the House to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending section 223 of our Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect 21st century medical evidence.

The next petition is from the riding of Mississauga—Erindale. Constituents in that riding are asking the House of Commons and Parliament assembled to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending section 223 of our Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect 21st century medical evidence. They do not want members of Parliament to turn their eyes away from 21st century medical evidence on this point.

The last petition has 202 signatures from the riding of Oakville. Constituents of that riding are affirming that Parliament has a solemn duty to reject any law that says some human beings are not human and, in so doing, to affirm that human rights are universally respected in Canada and that every human being is a human being. They are asking the Parliament of Canada to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending section 223 of our Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect 21st century medical evidence.

I would be happy if Parliament would not shut its eyes and would conduct a study of the evidence on this point, as is its duty.

Rights of the UnbornPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

I will remind hon. members that during petitions one does not express editorial opinions one way or the other.

Presenting petitions, the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

Animal WelfarePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present this afternoon.

The first is from residents of Burlington, Ontario, as well as Vancouver, Mill Bay and Victoria, British Columbia, some in my own riding. This petition relates to the issue of consumption of horses as human food. The petitioners remind the House of Commons that we should take steps under the Health of Animals Act and Meat Inspection Act to prohibit the raising of horses for slaughter as human food.

The BudgetPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from residents from many parts of Canada: from my riding, Pender Island, Mayne Island, Saanichton and Sidney, as well as from High River, Alberta; Sooke, B.C.; Kitchener, Ontario; Uxbridge, Ontario; Gabriola, B.C.; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Waterloo, London, Haliburton and Minden, Ontario.

These petitioners cite the numerous ways in which Bill C-38 is not properly an omnibus budget bill. They call on the Government of Canada to withdraw Bill C-38 and remove the sections that are not properly part of a budget bill and resubmit them to the House.

Super VisaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, back in November of last year the government made the decision to put a freeze on sponsoring parents from overseas, which has had a fairly profound negative impact in many communities. The government came up with the super visa idea, and this petition deals with the super visa.

The petitioners are saying that the super visa is not affordable, and many individuals in Canada are not able to acquire super visas for their parents. They are calling upon the Prime Minister and the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism to change the super visa requirements so that they can be reunited with their parents from abroad to attend many different types of events and special occasions here in Canada.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 617 could be made an order for return, this return would be tabled immediately.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Is that agreed?

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Question No. 617Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON

What is the total amount of government funding, since fiscal year 2011-2012, up to and including the current fiscal year, allocated within the constituency of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, listing each department or agency, initiative and amount, including the date the funding was allocated?

(Return tabled)

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Is that agreed?

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Motions for PapersRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers be allowed to stand.

Motions for PapersRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Is that agreed?

Motions for PapersRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Unparliamentary LanguagePoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Speaker, yesterday when we were debating the Trojan Horse budget bill and the member for Oak Ridges—Markham was responding to a question from the Liberal member for Kingston and the Islands, I let my emotions get the better of me and I want to apologize to my colleagues across the aisle, as well as to the Speaker, and ask that my remarks be withdrawn.

Unparliamentary LanguagePoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

I am sure the House appreciates the withdrawal of remarks by the hon. member for Nickel Belt.

Opposition Motion--Coast Guard Search and Rescue ServicesBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

moved:

That, in the opinion of the House, the government must recognize that saving lives is the top priority for Coast Guard search and rescue services, and that local service and knowledge, as well as the ability to communicate in the language of the communities served, are essential to delivering effective and timely life-saving operations and, therefore, must reverse the decisions to close the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centers in St. John’s and Quebec City and the Kitsilano Coast Guard station in Vancouver.

Opposition Motion--Coast Guard Search and Rescue ServicesBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Since today is the final allotted day for the supply period ending June 23, 2012, the House will go through the usual procedures to consider and dispose of the supply bills. In view of recent practices, do hon. members agree that the bill be distributed now?