Nelson Riis

[Fisheries, April 18th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, today there are representatives of 500,000 coastal British Columbians on Parliament Hill. They have come here because they feel their Liberal MPs for British Columbia have let them down, have betrayed them, have turned their backs on them.

The so-called Mifflin plan will destroy coastal communities and take jobs out of thousands of British Columbia households. It will do nothing for conservation of the stock. It will do nothing to enhance the salmon and other fisheries on the west coast. Yet the minister is determined to continue with a program that will destroy the communities and the lives of people.

I say to my Liberal British Columbia friends opposite, is it not time that you stood up for British Columbia as opposed to the government centred here in Ottawa?

[Petitions, March 12th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, in the final petition the undersigned electors of Kamloops draw to the attention of the House that one of the core values of Canadian society is the strong belief in equality; that equality for all Canadians includes freedom from hatred, harassment and discrimination.

Therefore the petitioners call on Parliament to enact legislation to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination against persons based on their sexual orientation.

[Petitions, March 12th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to present a petition on behalf of a number of constituents in Kamloops.

The petitioners indicate that changes to HRDC funding focuses on services for UI recipients only. They believe this will effectively eliminate most employment programs for immigrants, new Canadians and visible minorities experiencing barriers to the job market. Therefore they are asking Parliament to continue funding programs with proven success rates, particularly for non-UI recipients.

[Petitions, March 12th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls on Parliament to amend the Income Tax Act to exclude child support payments from the taxable income of custodial parents.

Obviously the government has listened because it has done that. The petition was prepared prior to the last budget.

[Petitions, March 12th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions.

The first is from the parents of students attending St. Ann's in the city of Kamloops. The petitioners indicate that women and children are becoming increasingly fearful of walking in their streets and neighbourhoods. They believe many violent and sex offenders are being paroled prematurely or are being released without proper treatment and rehabilitation.

They believe those convicted of dangerous and sexual offences should remain incarcerated until they have successfully undergone treatment and can demonstrate unequivocally that they have been completely rehabilitated.

Therefore the petitioners call on the Minister of Justice to take whatever steps necessary to amend Canada's Criminal Code and parole system to ensure safety and peace in Canadian neighbourhoods.

[Petitions, March 11th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to present a petition on behalf of a number of residents of the North Thompson Valley stretching from Vavenby to Kamloops. There are thousands of names on this petition.

The petitioners point out a number of options and I will read a sample of them. They are asking to keep dangerous sex offenders and pedophiles locked up for life; to eliminate statutory release; to impose stiffer sentences for violent offenders; have violent offenders serve their full sentences; have time added for bad behaviour; have a central register for the names and addresses of violent offenders; and give the police more authority in apprehending and interrogating violent offenders, including the ability to take blood and saliva samples and on and on. Mr. Speaker, I think you get the point.

The petitioners feel very strongly about this issue. I am pleased to present the petition on their behalf.

[Canada Elections Act, March 11th, 1996]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-233, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is the result of a number of initiatives taken by young people in my constituency and a number of neighbouring constituencies urging Parliament to consider reducing the voting age from 18 to 16.

They point out that at 16 young people are able to drive all sorts of vehicles on our highways, get married and raise a family, join the armed forces, collect unemployment insurance but cannot vote. There a lot of young people ages 16 and 17 who would enjoy the privilege of voting. This bill would give them that opportunity.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Canada Water Export Prohibition Act, March 11th, 1996]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-232, an act to prohibit the export of water by interbasin transfers.

Mr. Speaker, this bill has in one form or another been before the House for some time. Basically it is an act to prohibit the interbasin transfer of water used for export. Primarily it is intended to keep Canadian water in Canada.

Recognizing the actions of the Americans in the last little while, whether with regard to salmon, inland passage, Cuba, the marketing board, sugar or softwood lumber, we need to take some very clear steps in order to protect our water and ensure that we have adequate water for future generations.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Points Of Order, March 8th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, in light of the interest of members of Parliament with respect to the section of the red book that refers to child care, I wonder if I could seek unanimous consent to at least have that placed on the permanent record of the House.

[The Budget, February 28th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance indicated that he is going to introduce his budget next Wednesday. Since he has been consistent in setting targets for deficit reduction and for the rate of inflation, would the minister give some consideration in the upcoming budget to setting targets for job creation for the first time so that we could have a goal to work toward?

Also, would he call on the corporate sector now to begin playing its role in becoming more responsible in creating jobs and getting Canadians back to work?