Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents have put together a petition which calls on parliament not to accept a redefinition of the term “spouse” that would lead to it including same sex couples.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2004, with 37% of the vote.
Petitions November 5th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents have put together a petition which calls on parliament not to accept a redefinition of the term “spouse” that would lead to it including same sex couples.
Petitions November 5th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, my constituents have been very busy. I actually have 15 petitions. However, for the sake of brevity, I have grouped them into five groups. I will be extremely brief in introducing the petitions in their particular grouping.
The first group is similar to the petition just presented. My constituents ask that parliament not amend either the charter of rights and freedoms or the national anthem to remove the name of God.
Firearms Act November 5th, 1999
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-314, an act to amend the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code (no registration of firearms that are not restricted or prohibited firearms).
Mr. Speaker, the firearms registration legislation, when it was passed, had two parts. One was the registration of long guns, the other was new measures to deal with the criminal misuse of firearms.
My bill would simply deal with the first part, the registration of long guns. Few people see any advantage to this. It is incredibly costly. It is causing all kinds of bureaucratic problems. The money which the system costs could be more effectively spent on such things as better policing, better equipment for the police, DNA data banks and many other things.
It is a phenomenal waste of money. Let us spend taxpayers' money wisely. We cannot prevent crime by hassling law-abiding citizens.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Via Rail Commercialization Act November 5th, 1999
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-313, an act respecting the commercialization of VIA Rail Canada Inc.
Mr. Speaker, my bill is very simple. It concerns the privatization of VIA Rail. VIA Rail sold a part of its company to the private sector and then years later proceeded to try to compete with it. It is subsidized to the rate of over $500,000 a day, 365 days a year.
If it is going to use taxpayer money, it is time it was privatized, met good commercial standards and either run on its own merit or, if necessary, shut down and other companies which are more equipped to deal with good private sector practices could take over, as has been done by the Rocky Mountaineer in British Columbia.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Aboriginal Affairs November 5th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the minister of Indian affairs says that new treaties are a better option than court fights when he talks about the Nisga'a.
The neighbouring Gitanyow and Gitksan bands are now claiming that 80% of the 1,930 square kilometres of B.C. given to the Nisga'a under the treaty is their traditional land. They have started legal action against both the government and the Nisga'a.
How can the government claim success with the Nisga'a treaty when all that it has started is a new round of legal battles?
First Nations Ombudsman Act November 4th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I note that we have approximately four minutes left and I have a 10 minute presentation to make. Is it possible to ask for unanimous consent that we stop debate at this time and continue the next time the matter is before the House?
Committees Of The House October 29th, 1999
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
Yesterday, either a point of order or a point of privilege was raised with regard to a comment that was made. Albeit innocently, it was interpreted, because of racial background, that it was a racial slur. That was dealt with in the House.
Today, I heard a comment directed at the Reform Party members present, of which I was one. In my hereditary background is German ancestry. In the speech today by the hon. member for Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys, there was a definite reference made to the members of the Reform Party, myself included, using the term jackboot. That is a very specific and derogatory term used during World War II toward people of German descent.
Committees Of The House October 29th, 1999
Madam Speaker, I rise on a different point of order.
A little earlier today, before the vote occurred, the member for Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys was speaking. During his speech he made direct reference toward the Reform Party and started using terms like jackboots.
Committees Of The House October 29th, 1999
Madam Speaker, I rise further to the points of order that have already been raised. I believe that if splitting time meant two members making a single speech, they would continue unbroken and then questions and comments would be delivered to either one of them.
The House recognizes one speaker and then breaks up even the question and answer period, not to an unlimited amount of time but to a specific half, and then goes to the next hon. member. That is prima facie proof that the Chair recognizes each as separate and distinct speakers.
Fisheries October 29th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the Marshall decision is wreaking havoc in fishing communities on the east coast. The government claims it has the situation in hand but in actual fact it is getting much worse. It is at the point of violence now in Newfoundland and west coast natives are now stating that the Marshall decision gives them rights in B.C. to fish for salmon out of season and sell their catch commercially.
The supreme court needs to stay the flawed decision of Judge Binnie and clarify the Marshall decision.
How much damage has to be done before the Liberal government will take decisive action, not just hollow talks, to end this?