Janko Peric

[Situation in Iraq, March 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to once again put on the record my views with respect to Canadian intervention in Iraq.

I cannot in all honesty believe that this evening the world is on the brink of another war. What makes the situation that much more difficult to understand is that we have been brought to this brink by none other than two of our closest allies, the leaders of the United States of America and Great Britain.

The leaders of those two great democracies in the world have decided to say to hell with the United Nations and international diplomacy, to hell with the millions of people around the world who have pleaded with their governments to resolve their differences with Iraq by peaceful means. No, our two greatest allies have decided they are too far down the road to war that they cannot turn back and they do not need a resolution from the United Nations to authorize them to invade another nation.

All I can say is what absolute nonsense. Our neighbours and friends are being led into a war by a leader who believes he has something to prove, to whom I am not certain, but he is prepared to isolate his nation from the international community, united against war with an already weakened nation.

Yes, Hussein is a dangerous man. No doubt Iraq is in possession of weapons it should not have, chemical and otherwise. I said no doubt because there has been documented evidence that the U.S. provided Iraq with such weapons back when it considered Saddam Hussein a friend, but he is no longer considered a friend.

Even weapons inspectors have been making inroads in Iraq over the past few weeks. Iraqis have been cooperating with weapons inspectors. Missiles found to be non-compliant have been and continue to be destroyed, but none of this is good enough for President George Bush. President George Bush will not rest until he has defeated Saddam, until he has finished the job his father did not finish in 1991. For this the world has been thrown into uncertainty.

I am terribly concerned about the precedent this unilateral action by the U.S. and Britain is setting. U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have decided that they are not required to abide by international law, that they are above the law. God forbid that anyone should disagree with them, because in their minds their actions are justified. They can go in and overrun a nation and those of us who do not agree with them are wrong and unreasonable.

As far as I can see the only parties being unreasonable in this entire situation are President Bush and Prime Minister Blair. They are the ones who have appeared unwilling to compromise. They are the ones who are showing absolute disregard for the concerns of their friends and neighbours around the globe. I am sorry if our neighbours to the south do not like what has been said here tonight, but if we are true friends, we must not be afraid to tell it like it is.

What happens if, after the U.S. and Britain have completely destroyed Iraq, they succeed in removing Saddam Hussein? Will they install yet another so-called puppet, as was once the case when Saddam and other known U.S. friends turned enemies, like Osama bin Laden and Slobodan Milosevic? Will the U.S. then decide to go to war against the new Iraqi leader in a few years when the leader decides he no longer wants to abide by its orders? Perhaps there is another rogue leader somewhere in the world that will be the next target. When will this ever end?

My constituents have been consistent in their position on Canada's intervention in Iraq. Canada should not participate in any military action against Iraq or anyone else without authorization from the United Nations.

This government has listened. The Prime Minister's announcement today that Canada will not participate unless there is a new resolution from the United Nations Security Council is welcome news to my constituents and to me personally. The Prime Minister and Canadian diplomats at the United Nations have worked tirelessly to reach a compromise between those with opposed views on this matter but it is hard to reach a compromise when there appears to be so little will to do so.

There are some in the House who believe we should support efforts of our American neighbours just because they are our neighbours and because we share a common border. I am afraid that I do not buy this argument. If my friend was about to commit a crime or do something that was morally wrong, I could not stand by that friend no matter how much he or she meant to me personally. In fact I would not support a family member if that person's actions were illegal or immoral, so how could I possibly support the actions of the United States and its British partner when they are about to act illegally?

Simply put, I cannot support them and will not support them unless the United Nations sanctions their actions by way of a UN Security Council resolution. I applaud the Prime Minister for making our nation's position on this matter very clear.

[Petitions, March 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the honour to present a petition with over 500 signatures from constituents in my riding of Cambridge and from citizens of the riding of Brant. The petitioners wish to draw to the attention of the House the fact that the majority of Canadians condemns the creation and use of child pornography and that the courts have not applied current law in a swift and decisive manner. Therefore, the petitioners call on Parliament to take the necessary steps to outlaw all materials that promote or glorify child pornography.

[Badger Flood, March 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, in mid-February the community of Badger, Newfoundland was hit by terrible flooding, followed by freezing temperatures that left the town devastated and many homeless.

In my riding local businesses and organizations like Nemcor, Elite Vending, the Real Estate Board of Cambridge and the Newfoundland Club of Cambridge have raised money and relief to help the people of Badger.

My constituents, as well as local companies and organizations have always been there to help other regions of Canada when they have faced disasters.

I would like to congratulate the efforts of all those involved, especially the Newfoundland Club of Cambridge, for showing leadership in helping the people of Badger.

[Petitions, February 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 it is my privilege to present to the House a petition signed by 100 concerned citizens of my riding of Cambridge.

At the present time in Canada, one out of four children dies before birth from induced abortion.

Over half of all Canadians agree that human life should be protected prior to birth and yet there is still no law protecting unborn children.

Therefore the petitioners pray and request that the Parliament of Canada enact legislation that would provide legal recognition and protection of children from fertilization to birth.

[Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act, February 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am voting in favour of the motion.

[Petitions, February 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the privilege to present to the House a petition from hundreds of concerned citizens from my riding of Cambridge. In Canada, one out of four children dies before birth from induced abortion. More than half of all Canadians agree that human life should be protected prior to birth and yet there is still no law protecting unborn children.

The petitioners pray and request that the Parliament of Canada enact legislation that would provide legal recognition and protection of children from fertilization to birth.

[Petitions, February 24th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the privilege to present to the House a petition dealing with marriage signed by some 100 constituents from my riding of Cambridge.

The petitioners wish to draw to the attention of the House that the institution of marriage has always been defined as a union of a man and a woman, and was upheld as such by votes in the House. The petitioners pray and request that the Parliament of Canada respect and uphold the current understanding of marriage as the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.

[Petitions, February 20th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the privilege to present to the House a petition from some 100 concerned citizens of my riding of Cambridge.

The petitioners wish to bring to the attention of the House the fact that one Canadian child in four dies before birth from induced abortion. More than half of Canadians believe that human life should be protected prior to birth. There is still no law protecting unborn children.

[Petitions, February 19th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the privilege to present to the House two petitions signed by more than 400 constituents of mine from Cambridge.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to protect the rights of Canadians so they can share their religious beliefs without fear of persecution. The petitioners oppose Bill C-250 and fear that if adopted, expressing moral disapproval of a sexual practice by citing the Bible or other sacred religious books, could lead to hate crime charges, and I agree with them.

[Cambridge, Ontario, February 4th, 2003]

Madam Speaker, January 1, 2003 marked the 30th birthday of the city of Cambridge.

When the communities of Galt, Preston and Hespeler were forced together by order of the provincial government in 1973, residents feared that their communities would lose their identity. Fortunately the city of Cambridge has prospered and Galt, Preston and Hespeler have retained much of their history and charm.

A vibrant economy anchored by industrial leaders such as Toyota, ATS, Canadian General Tower and A.G. Simpson has helped to draw an increasing number of residents to Cambridge.

With a population of 110,000 and growing, Cambridge will continue to lead the region in industrial growth while still maintaining a sense of community that those of us who live in Cambridge truly appreciate.

Happy birthday, Cambridge.