LaVar Payne

[Petitions, October 1st, 2014]

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

The first petition is from citizens across southern Alberta who ask that they be free to use firearms for recreational use. The petitioners ask that the Government of Canada fix the legislation so that unelected bureaucrats can no longer control weapons classification.

[South Alberta Light Horse, September 29th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to speak about the South Alberta Light Horse, Alberta's regiment, which is based in my riding of Medicine Hat.

I was fortunate to be able to attend the change of command ceremony, which took place September 14, at the Court of Queen's Bench in Medicine Hat.

Lieutenant Colonel Colin Michaud, who has served with distinction as regimental commander since 2011, passed the baton to Lieutenant Colonel Troy Steele who is very enthusiastic about serving as the new regimental commanding officer. Colonel Steele has been a member of the South Alberta Light Horse since 1978.

As a former member of the South Alberta Light Horse myself, I was honoured to be on parade with my son, Major Scott Payne, who has been a dedicated officer in the regiment for a number of years.

From the Northwest Rebellion, to the Battle of Ypres in World War I, to Afghanistan in our day, the South Alberta Light Horse regiment has served its country and its people with great pride and humility. On behalf of all Canadians, I wish the whole regiment all the best in what promises to be a very bright future.

[Situation in Iraq, September 16th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I was listening to the Leader of the Opposition, and it appears that he has his head in the sand along with his NDP colleagues in this whole ISIL issue. They do not seem to recognize that, in fact, there is a crisis in Iraq and Syria. It will expand in the Middle East and globally.

There have been reports of Canadians who have joined ISIL in Iraq and Syria, and some of them have died while participating in the front-line fighting. I am wondering if my colleague could make a comment on that.

[Petitions, June 19th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition to present with respect to the Species at Risk Act.

The petitioners, citizens from right across Canada, ask for the Species at Risk Act to be rescinded and for it to be replaced with something that encourages voluntary implementation.

[Petitions, June 19th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present. Two of them are very similar and are with respect to the greater sage grouse in Canada.

The petitioners request the Government of Canada to rescind this strategy and to rescind the emergency protection order.

[Petitions, June 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise again today to present two more petitions from my constituents and constituents across Alberta who bring to the attention of the House of Commons that law-abiding citizens should be free to use firearms for recreational use. The current ability of the RCMP bureaucrats to make decisions on the spot regarding the classification of guns impedes the rights of law-abiding Canadians. They ask that this legislation be fixed so that unelected bureaucrats no longer have control over weapons.

[Business of Supply, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to the minister's comments very intently. I am very pleased to hear him talk about stay-at-home dads. My son was a stay-at-home dad. He helped to raise two of his children. The benefits of the universal child care system were extremely beneficial for his family. They made a choice to have my son stay at home with the kids to help make sure that his family was stable and to make sure that the family unit worked together.

I can say, without a doubt, that this has been a huge benefit to my own family.

[Petitions, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present the fourth petition from my constituents regarding the amended recovery strategy for the greater sage-grouse in Canada.

The petitioners are calling on the government to rescind this strategy.

[Petitions, June 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is also from citizens of Medicine Hat.

The petitioners point out that law-abiding Canadian citizens should be free to use firearms for recreational use. They call upon the House of Commons to fix legislation so that unelected bureaucrats no longer have control over weapons classifications.

[Petitions, June 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is also from residents of Medicine Hat.

The petitioners are asking that the House of Commons rescind the Species at Risk Act and replace it with an act that would encourage voluntary implementation.