Peter Adams

[Infrastructure, June 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame officially opens this week as a major addition to the Memorial Centre, home of

the Peterborough Petes. The new hall is the result of 16 years of effort by many volunteers.

We already have over a hundred distinguished inductees and a wall of fame, which has generated a great deal of interest and pride, but until now we have lacked a real hall.

Since its earliest years Peterborough has been a major centre for sports at all levels. It is a community known for a high level of participation in sports, the quality of its athletes, and the extraordinary variety of sports practised by its citizens.

Our hall of fame will be a showcase for sports and will house the archives of sports history in the community. Since the history of Peterborough and the history of sports are inseparable, visitors to the new hall of fame, especially young people, will leave with a stronger sense of community identity and pride.

My thanks to all those who have given of their energy, talents, and money to bring this project to fruition. I am delighted that the Canada infrastructure program could help.

[Petitions, June 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition indicates that the undersigned residents of Canada draw the attention of the House to the following: Whereas law-abiding citizens deserve protection, especially the most vulnerable in our society, therefore we, the petitioners, humbly pray and call upon Parliament to recognize the public threat of dangerous offenders and to amend the Criminal Code to have such offenders detained indefinitely on warrant expiry when it is believe that they may cause serious physical or psychological harm or death to the person.

[Petitions, June 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions this morning. The first reads: "We, the undersigned residents of Canada draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: That members of Parliament have recently made hateful comments which contribute to a climate of intolerance, fear and violence for the lesbian, gay and bisexual community.

Therefore, your petitioners call upon Parliament to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation".

[Criminal Code, June 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I do not know about the member for Hamilton West, but I did call the member opposite a big bigot and I withdraw it as being unparliamentary.

[Elders And Traditional Peoples Gathering, June 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the 12th annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering was held at Trent University in Peterborough. Three thousand aboriginal people and others met to address the theme: family growth through our elders.

There were ceremonies, plays, concerts and workshops. Workshop topics included oral traditions, immersion schools, being Indian today, Inuit life, the spirit of healing, native women's issues, traditional language and medicinal herbs. A highlight was the play "Earth Rhythms" about young people creating change in their own environment. This was performed by people from the First Nations of Curve Lake and Hiawatha.

The annual elders conference is aboriginal Canadians helping themselves and others to make Canada an even better place.

I am delighted to add that Trent University will be appointing a new chancellor this fall. She will be Mary Simon, former president of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference and currently Canada's ambassador for circumpolar affairs.

[Electoral Boundaries Readjustmentact, 1995, June 15th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I noticed the hon. member was concerned about the cost of Parliament and the cost of members of Parliament, and I think rightly so. It is very important that taxpayers' money be well spent and be seen to be well spent.

However I noticed last evening the member sitting down and standing up very slowly during the votes. I have heard that one of the costs of Parliament is the cost of running the House and I have been told that it is roughly $48,000 an hour. It seems to me last evening the standing up and sitting down very slowly perhaps cost us an extra three hours, which would be roughly $150,000 or roughly the salary and associated costs of an MP for a whole year.

I noticed the hon. member was standing up particularly slowly and sitting down particularly slowly. I wonder what he thought about spending the equivalent of the annual salary and benefits of one member of Parliament in one wasted period of three hours last evening.

[Electoral Boundaries Readjustmentact, 1995, June 15th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, with respect to what the member refers to as new style politics and the wishes of his constituents, could he explain the activities of the Reform last evening, when for about three hours during the votes I noticed the members were deliberately standing up and sitting down very slowly? Instead of standing up so that the clerks could do the count very quickly, they were standing up and sitting down very slowly. With respect to this new style of politics, is this a new tactic the Reform Party has developed? Was it requested by their constituents?

[Petitions, June 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from Canadians who point out that acts of discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual Canadians are an every day reality in all regions of Canada, that this kind of discrimination is unacceptable in a country known for its commitment to human rights, equality and dignity for all citizens and that the citizens who are so discriminated against pay taxes and make contributions to employee benefit plans and are entitled to the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens.

Therefore, the petitioners call on 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.

[Environment, June 9th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment.

It is very important that the government lead by example in all things, including environmental matters. One of the most visible symbols of government is the national capital region. Our national capital is beautiful at this time of year, but I ask the Minister of the Environment what she is doing to ensure that it is and remains truly green.

[Petitions, June 8th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from residents of the city and county of Peterborough.

Whereas the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in the Lord's Prayer has been included in the historic parliamentary prayer of the House of Commons since 1867, and whereas Canada was founded and built on the principles of Christianity and the large majority of Canadians profess the Christian faith, therefore the petitioners call on the House of Commons to close the parliamentary prayer with the words: "Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen", and reinstate the Lord's Prayer at the conclusion of the opening prayer.