John M. Cummins

[Petitions, December 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present today.

The first one deals with child pornography. In it, the petitioners note that the creation and use of child pornography is condemned by the clear majority of Canadians. They note that the courts do not appear to be applying the laws in a way that is acceptable to the community at large. They call on Parliament to protect our children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that child pornography activities are outlawed and that those laws are enforced by our courts.

[Kyoto Protocol, December 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of the member across the way.

There is one issue I have some problems with and I wonder what his take is on it. That is the notion that the Kyoto accord does not require Canada to actually make CO

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reductions, that it establishes this emissions trading credit scheme which allows Canada to buy credits toward its targets by transferring money abroad, in some cases it is said to countries with worse environmental records rather than make the CO

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reductions themselves.

I just do not understand how that could be a benefit. If we want to be on the leading edge of technology on these things, why do we not simply take it upon ourselves to make improvements in this way? Why would we commit ourselves to this protocol which has so many risks? Why would we not just make a commitment to do something--

[Kyoto Protocol, December 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Kyoto accord deals primarily with emissions of carbon dioxide. The hon. member talked about smog in Toronto. The Kyoto accord does not deal with environmental contamination in general and air pollution in particular. Why the reference to smog in Toronto?

[Coast Guard, December 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we are in trouble all right.

Here is a fact. The Kapitan Man is a Russian spy ship long of interest to security forces in Canada and the United States. Three days ago the Coast Guard tracked the Kapitan Man from Seattle to Victoria to Tofino. Two days ago the Kapitan Man voluntarily reported anchoring off Massett in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Yesterday the Canadian navy asked the Coast Guard if it could provide information on the small vessels seen approaching and tying alongside the Kapitan Man . The answer was no. The Coast Guard has no surveillance radar in the area.

Could the minister tell us what this spy ship is up to?

[Coast Guard, December 2nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the commissioner of the Coast Guard is in agreement with the Canadian Alliance. He has said that the Canadian Coast Guard is unable to adequately protect Canada's coastline from terrorists and that for the most part for most of the B.C. coast there is no radar capability. The commissioner has admitted that the Coast Guard depends largely on an honour system to obtain information on the whereabouts of incoming vessels and that the Coast Guard does not have clue on who or what is entering Canadian waters.

When will the Coast Guard be provided with the resources it needs to secure our borders?

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 27th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, back in May I asked Question No. 167 and the question was repeated in October. The question has to do with the failure of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to enforce the Fisheries Act and the Navigable Waters Protection Act. The question dealt with the simple matter of numbers of fish farms that have been licensed.

Apparently the government has to ask the provinces for the answer that it should know. If the government really does not know the answer, could it tell me it does not know rather than keeping me in suspense?

This matter is well over the 45 days notice.

[Petitions, November 27th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, in the second petition, the petitioners call to the attention of the House their concerns about child pornography. They suggest that the courts have not applied current child pornography laws in a way that Parliament had intended.

They call on Parliament to protect our children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.

[Petitions, November 27th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present to day. The first petition has to do with the concerns of some constituents and others about the funding of the Coast Guard. The petitioners bring to the attention of the House the fact that there was what they might refer to as a botched rescue attempt this summer after the capsizing of a vessel. They blame that on the lack of funding by the government for the Coast Guard. They would like to see that funding restored and they would like Parliament to separate the Coast Guard from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

[Petitions, November 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition has to do with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The petitioners note that the fisheries minister has a constitutional obligation to protect wild fish in their habitat. They call on Parliament to direct the minister to fulfill his obligation to protect all wild fish in their habitat from the effects of salmon farming.

[Petitions, November 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition deals with child pornography. The constituents who signed this petition are appalled at the interpretations being given to current child pornography law. They call on Parliament to take all necessary steps to ensure that pedophilia and sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.