Ed Harper

[Canada Council, February 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I received a card from the Canada Council last week, as did all MPs. It asked me to imagine Canada without musicians, painters, writers and other artists. The card implies that without the council Canada will lack culture and imagination.

Well I have news for the Canada Council. Canadians have culture and imagination in spite of the Canada Council. Works like those of the Group of Seven that are now hanging in our National Gallery were examples of Canadian culture and imagination long before the Canada Council was ever conceived. No grants were needed to create these masterpieces and many of today's artists work grant free.

Why not imagine a country with a balanced budget, a healthy economy, a workplace free from government interference? Speaking of balanced budgets, the debt clock this week passed $550 billion. Shame, shame.

[Petitions, February 16th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, the final petition today is of the subject of section 745 of the Criminal Code. The petitioners request that Parliament repeal this section so that those convicted of first degree murder will have to serve their full 25-year sentence behind bars.

[Petitions, February 16th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, the third petition is on the issue of euthanasia.

The petitioners request that current laws regarding active euthanasia be enforced and that Parliament not sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or euthanasia.

[Petitions, February 16th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, the second petition concerns the subject of the family. The petitioners request that Parliament oppose any legislation that would directly or indirectly redefine the family, including the provision of marriage and family benefits to those who are not related by ties of blood, marriage or adoption, where marriage is defined as a legal union between a man and a woman.

[Petitions, February 16th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I have four petitions to present on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre today. The first group of petitioners request that the Government of Canada not amend the human rights act to include the phrase sexual orientation. The petitioners fear that such an inclusion could lead to homosexuals receiving the same benefits and societal privileges as married people.

[Income Tax, February 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at a tax rally alert last night in St. Catharines sponsored by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The event drew an overflow crowd of some 800 concerned taxpayers with a strong message for the finance minister: "No new or increased taxes". Several of those in attendance spoke about where they felt spending cuts could be made and how important it was for the government to understand it has a spending problem and not a revenue problem.

As a result of this addiction to tax and spend, our debt clock this morning was $549,892,000,000.

The crowd's reaction to the reported comment of the revenue minister that the government will not be influenced by protests was one of the loudest of the rally, second only to a demand for cuts, not scrapes, to our MP pension plan.

You choose to ignore the people we work for at your peril. No longer are Canadians prepared to roll over and take it from politicians who are not listening.

[Petitions, February 8th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre.

The petitioners request that the Government of Canada not amend the human rights act to include the phrase "sexual orientation". The petitioners are concerned about including the undefined phrase of sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act. Refusing to define the statement leaves interpretation open to the courts, a very dangerous precedent to set. Parliament has a responsibility to Canadians to ensure that legislation cannot be misinterpreted.

[Questions On The Order Paper, December 13th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. My Question No. 21 has been on the Order Paper since March 8, 1994 or 280 days. It is a straightforward question.

I wonder if I could get an indication of when I might expect a reply.

[Petitions, December 13th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition to present on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre.

The petitioners request that the Government of Canada not amend the Human Rights Act to include the phrase sexual orientation. The petitioners fear that such an inclusion could lead to homosexuals receiving the same benefits and societal privileges as married people. I concur with the petitioners' request.

[Immigration And Refugee Board, December 12th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the Schelew affair has tainted the refugee determination process in Canada. How can Canadians be confident in the workings of the

IRB when the minister not only refuses to accept his responsibility but will not even allow a judicial inquiry to root out the wrongdoing?

Why is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration reluctant to face the music and accept responsibility for the mess he helped to create?