Dave Chatters

[Gasoline, March 24th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment. Could she confirm that she is planning to introduce legislation in the near future that would ban MMT as an octane enhancer in gasoline.

[Taxation, March 21st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of Finance. It has been reported that after meeting with Calgary mayor Al Duerr last Friday he has agreed to review his government's decision to end the private utility tax rebate.

Is he reviewing the decision and when might the House expect the results of the review?

[Private Utilities Income Tax Transfer, March 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources was quoted as saying that Ottawa may not be able to tax crown owned utilities, but she would like to hear ideas on how to put them on level ground with investor owned electricity and natural gas utilities.

I know for a fact that a coalition of privately owned utility companies from across Canada sent this minister a copy of their document entitled: "Equitable Tax Treatment for Utilities in Canada". It represents a fair alternative that would increase the utility costs by less than 1 per cent for all Canadians instead of a 7.5 per cent increase for Albertans and Nova Scotians as proposed in the budget.

If the minister really is serious about fairness she would seriously consider their ideas before she cuts the private utilities income tax transfer. She would also advise the Minister of Finance to commit to doing this when he meets with Calgary's mayor today.

[Petitions, March 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from my constituents containing 2,700 names, which is also part of a larger petition prompted by the murder of Barb Denelesko.

The petitioners state that Canadian citizens from coast to coast are calling for changes to the Young Offenders Act. They want an act serious enough to deter young people from committing crimes and tough enough to provide real justice. In its current format the Young Offenders Act is not meeting these objectives. The petitioners request that the Government of Canada review the Young Offenders Act of 1992 and amend it accordingly.

[Petitions, March 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the other petition asks that Parliament reduce government spending instead of increasing taxes.

I support the petitioners.

[Petitions, March 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present two petitions from my constituents.

The first petition requests that Parliament amend the Divorce Act, including the provision similar to article 611 of the Quebec civil code, which states:

In no case may a father or mother, without serious cause, place obstacles between the child and grandparents. Failing agreement between the parties, the modalities of the relations are settled by the court.

Further, they request an amendment to the Divorce Act that would give a grandparent who is granted access to a child the right to make inquiries and to be given information as to the health, education and welfare of the child.

[The Budget, March 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in view of the discriminatory nature of this tax grab and the fact that the socialist power companies of Ontario and Quebec get away scot free, does the finance minister view this as fair and equitable?

[The Budget, March 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.

In the budget the government announced the elimination of the public utilities transfer tax rebate. Since 88 per cent of the $250 million tax grab hits Alberta, the elimination of this rebate is a discriminatory tax hike aimed directly at Albertans and will cost them at least $170 million.

As the senior federal minister representing Alberta, does the minister support this measure?

[Petitions, February 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in the second petition the petitioners request that Parliament support laws that will severely punish all criminals who use weapons in the commission of a crime, support new Criminal Code firearms control provisions which recognize and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to own and use recreational firearms, support legislation that will repeal and modify existing gun control laws which have not improved public safety or have proven not to be cost effective or have proven to be overly complex as to be ineffective and/or unenforceable.

I concur with the petitioners.

[Petitions, February 22nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present two petitions in accordance with Standing Order 36.

The first is from petitioners in the Lesser Slave Lake-Westlock area in my riding. They request simply that the hon. finance minister not increase our net taxes in this year's budget.