Svend Robinson

[Petitions, March 13th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition draws to the attention of the House the fact that the current Criminal Code denies people who are suffering from terminal or irreversible and debilitating illness the right to choose freely and voluntarily to end their lives with the assistance of a physician.

Therefore, petitioners from across British Columbia call on Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to ensure the right of all Canadians to die with dignity by allowing people with terminal or irreversible and debilitating illnesses the right to the assistance of a physician in ending their lives at a time of their choice, subject to strict safeguards to prevent abuse, and to ensure that the decision is free, informed, competent and voluntary.

[Petitions, March 13th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions today. The first is signed by residents of Ottawa and Toronto.

It notes that acts of discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual Canadians are an everyday reality in all regions of Canada. This kind of discrimination is unacceptable in a country known for its commitment to human rights, equality and dignity for all citizens.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens pay taxes, make contributions to employee benefit plans and are entitled to the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens. Therefore, the petitioners call upon Parliament to act quickly to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and to adopt all necessary measures to recognize the full equality of same sex relationships in federal law.

[Health, March 13th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of Health.

Today the Canadian Health Coalition released a legal opinion prepared by Dr. Bryan Schwartz concerning the impact of NAFTA on Canada's medicare system.

In view of the serious differences between the U.S. and Canada over this issue and in view of the March 31 deadline which is quickly approaching, will the minister agree to meet urgently with his provincial counterparts and health policy activists? Most important, will he issue a clear interpretation that no part of Canada's health care system will be opened up to U.S. for-profit health corporations?

[Petitions, December 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the final petition is signed by residents of Saskatchewan, British Columbia and New Brunswick.

The petition draws to the attention of the House the fact that the current Criminal Code denies people who are suffering from terminal or irreversible and debilitating illness the right to choose freely and voluntarily to end their lives with the assistance of a physician. Therefore, the petitioners call upon Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to ensure the right of all Canadians to die with dignity by allowing people with terminal or irreversible and debilitating illness the right to the assistance of a physician in ending their lives at a time of their choice, subject to strict safeguards to prevent abuse and to ensure that the decision is free, informed, competent and voluntary.

[Petitions, December 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition asks Parliament to act quickly to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in all areas of federal jurisdiction and to adopt all measures necessary to recognize common law couples of the same sex in federal legislation.

[Petitions, December 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition which I wish to present notes that the Senate is not elected and therefore is not accountable to the people of Canada. The petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to end this wasteful use of taxpayers' money and to abolish the Senate.

The petition is signed by residents of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

[Petitions, December 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present four petitions today.

The first petition notes that the Canadian Human Rights Commission has decided to eliminate the work of about 40 investigative staff in six regional offices in Canada. The petitioners call upon Parliament to rescind the decision and restore the full functions of the commission's regional offices with a full complement of investigative and administrative staff.

The petition is signed by residents of London, Ontario.

[Petitions, December 13th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present the final petition which is signed by residents of Victoria and other cities in British Columbia.

It calls upon Parliament to establish a peace tax legislation which recognizes the right of conscientious objectors not to pay for the military and within which the government would declare its commitment to apply that portion of their taxes that was to be used for military purposes toward peaceful purposes such as peace education, war relief, humanitarian and environmental aid, and housing.

[Petitions, December 13th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I have an additional petition to present dealing with the very serious situation in East Timor.

It calls upon Parliament to send a clear message to the Indonesian government from Canadians that human rights violations against the people of Indonesian, and especially East Timor, will not be tolerated; to enforce this statement by making recent trade and aid deals with Indonesia contingent on respect for human rights as set out in the petition; and to ensure that Canada lends full and vocal support to the United Nations mediated peace process, pressing for the inclusion of East Timorese representatives in the peace process and access to East Timor for the United Nations and human rights and humanitarian organizations.

[Petitions, December 13th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, the second petition is presented on behalf of hundreds of Canadians, in particular Tamil Canadians, who express their deep concern about the continuing military offensive by the Sri Lankan armed forces against Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

It calls upon Parliament to ensure that Canadian neutrality in the national conflict is not jeopardized; to intervene immediately and release Mr. Manickavasagam Suresh who was arrested in Canada pursuant to a minister's certificate; to take action to lift the economic embargo and press censorship in the north and east of Sri Lanka; and to resolve the conflict between the Tamil people and the Sri Lankan government through peaceful negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, the representative of the Tamil people.