Maurice Vellacott

[Supply, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I have a simple question for the member opposite. Does he feel that some of these many dollars that have been squandered off, amounting at some point to $2 billion, could have been better spent in terms of help for and assistance to agricultural producers across the country?

Successive governments have neglected agriculture and I think it has mounted to some considerable costs. Instead of spending money on a gun registry boondoggle, HRDC and sponsorship scandals and so on, would those dollars not have been better invested in farm support programs for our producers across the country?

[Petitions, February 26th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I add today the names of another 472 petitioners from my province of Saskatchewan urging Parliament to pass legislation that recognizes marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

[Armenian People, February 25th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the member, in correspondence with different members in the House, has indicated that this will have no implications in terms of land or reparations. When the NDP introduced this motion in the House, it was not always part of its motion but in its stated policy it does in fact say that there should be reparations in land and other things that go back to the Armenian people.

I have a great sadness in my heart with regard to what happened in those awful days. However I am concerned that when one country, be it any country in the world, passes that, it is then used by the various--

[Supply, February 24th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I do not recall the member making reference to the situation in Sudan. We had a situation where a large major Calgary oil company, Talisman by name, was in Sudan for too long. Finally it has backed out of that situation The profits went into the war. Oil revenues were used to the hurt of the southerners in that country. The Khartoum government was using it in a very bloody, brutal and awful way in genocide of the people of the south.

For a long time I had great concern and consternation because of the fact that our pension funds were actually invested with Talisman, which in turn was then used to fuel this genocidal war in Sudan.

I would appreciate the member's comments with respect to that.

[Petitions, February 23rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to present eight petitions, with a total of 256 signatures, adding to the thousands that have been introduced in the House already, a significant number by myself.

These petitioners are asking Parliament to take all necessary steps to preserve the current definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

[Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, February 4th, 2004]

Madam Chair, I have a question for my colleague across the way. I think he is well aware that we are still importing large quantities of beef into our country despite the fact that there is growing domestic over-supply. I would be interested in his view of why that is so from the government's point of view. Also, what does he believe the government can do about that over-supply we have when we are importing all the time into the county?

[Petitions, February 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the petition that I have in hand is on the issue of child pornography. The petitioners draw attention to the fact that the creation and use of child pornography has been condemned by a clear majority of Canadians and that the courts have not applied the current child pornography law consistently. They call upon Parliament to protect our children by taking all the necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children be outlawed.

[Petitions, February 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I will not make the comment in respect to that particular petition, as we have just been reminded that I cannot comment in the House, at least, that I oppose same sex marriage in that particular petition, but I do want--

[Westbank First Nation Self-Government Act, November 7th, 2003]

Madam Speaker, I believe you would find unanimous consent to pass Bill C-57, an act to give effect to the Westbank First Nation self-government agreement, at second reading and refer it to a committee without debate or amendment.

[Child Pornography, November 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I think he is saying there is a bit of a weak will there. There is no legislation and there are inadequate resources.

The Americans have also diligently investigated this extensive child pornography ring and taken effective steps to prosecute those within their jurisdiction. In Canada, the Liberal government is asleep at the switch.

Canadian police have told us frequently that they lack the resources to deal with child pornography. Would the government commit to giving the police the adequate resources to eliminate this evil of child pornography?