Bob Kilger

[Senior Men's Curling Championship, February 8th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell and I wish to congratulate the senior men's team from the Cornwall Curling Club in my riding of Stormont-Dundas. This foursome represented the province of Ontario at the recent Canadian Senior Men's Curling Championships held in friendly and hospitable Saint John, New Brunswick.

Lead George Dolejsi, second Keith MacGregor, third Thom Pritchard, the lone Glengarian on the team, and Skip Bill Dickie proved to be the pride of Ontario and Cornwall by winning the coveted Canadian Senior Men's Curling Championship.

We commend them for their effort and dedication to this popular sport that enabled them to win such a prestigious national championship.

We are proud of them and we congratulate them.

[Petitions, October 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, finally the last petition is signed by 458 residents of Stormont-Dundas who pray that Parliament ensures that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law that would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Petitions, October 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the fourth petition signed by 46 residents of Stormont-Dundas prays that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate in any way societal approval of same sex relationships or homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Petitions, October 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition signed by 1,684 residents of my riding prays that Parliament requests Red Cross Canada review its policy of directed blood donation and take the steps necessary to allow individuals to dictate the use of their blood to family members as they see fit.

This petition drive was launched by Mrs. Natalie Jodoin of Cornwall when she discovered that she could not donate blood at a local hospital and direct that it be used for her daughter should the need arise during minor surgery.

[Petitions, October 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition signed by 95 residents of my riding calls upon Parliament to review and revise our laws concerning young offenders by empowering the courts to prosecute and punish young offenders by releasing their names and lowering the age limit to allow prosecution to meet the severity of the crime.

[Petitions, October 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the honour to present to the House five petitions. The first contains the names of 1,716 constituents of Stormont-Dundas who call upon Parliament to act to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by human beings to unborn human beings.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, September 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the joint parliamentary delegation's visit to Australia from June 26 to July 4, 1994.

This visit took us to four communities: Canberra, Longreach, Brisbane and Sydney. As guests of the Australian Senate and House of Representatives, we were provided with the opportunity to meet and discuss matters with numerous parliamentarians, many of whom were ministers, both at the federal and state levels. Our discussions covered a wide range of topics: international affairs, including APEC, GATT, NAFTA, UN peacekeeping, economic and taxation issues, including the GST, aboriginal affairs, federal-state relations and employment, agricultural and educational issues, just to name a few.

I know I speak for all the members of the delegation when I say that we felt as if we were still at home in Canada because of the numerous similarities between our two countries.

Let me conclude by drawing the House's attention to a recommendation put forward by an Australian counterpart, the hon. Andrew Peacock. Mr. Peacock felt very strongly that because Canada and Australia have so much in common and so many areas in which expertise can be shared and exchanged, some form of mechanism or association should be created to ensure that this type of exchange between Australian and Canadian parliamentarians takes place on a more frequent and regular basis.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I wish to express our gratitude to the Hon. Michael Beahan, President of the Senate and your counterpart, the Hon. Stephen Martin, Speaker of the House of Representatives for being such gracious hosts; Mrs. Carol Richardson, Australian Parliamentary Officer, who worked so hard and successfully on our program; and finally to Mr. Michael Berry, Canadian High Commissioner, and Mr. Gardiner Wilson, Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, who provided the delegation with much appreciated advice and support.

[Petitions, May 11th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, today I have the solemn responsibility pursuant to Standing Order 36 to table a certified petition on behalf of more than 9,000 residents in my constituency of Stormont-Dundas.

Regrettably the petition is motivated by the tragic murder earlier this year of 16-year old Carrie Lauzon of Cornwall. This petition was started by her mother, Shelley Lauzon.

The undersigned petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to review and revise our laws concerning young offenders by empowering the courts to prosecute and punish the young law breakers who are terrorizing our society by releasing their names and lowering the age limit to allow prosecution to meet the severity of the crime.