Maurice Vellacott

[Petitions, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, my third petition is signed by residents of Canada who draw the attention of the House to the fact that modern science has unequivocally and irrefutably established that a human being begins to exist at the moment of conception.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to bring in legislation defining a human fetus or embryo from the moment of conception whether in the womb of the mother or not, and whether conceived naturally or otherwise, as a human being and to make any and all consequential amendments to all Canadian laws as required.

[Petitions, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition to present today in respect of child pornography.

The petitioners draw attention to the fact that the creation and use of child pornography is condemned by the clear majority of Canadians and that the courts have not applied the current child pornography law in a way which makes it clear that such exploitation will always be met with swift punishment.

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

[Petitions, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by several hundred petitioners who draw attention to the fact that thousands of Canadians suffer from various debilitating diseases and that Canadians do support ethical stem cell research. The petitioners point out that non-embryonic stem cells which are also known as adult stem cells have shown significant research progress without the immune rejection or ethical problems associated with embryonic stem cells.

They call upon Parliament to focus its legislative support and dollars on adult stem cell research to find the cures and therapies necessary to treat the illnesses and diseases of Canadians.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, in 1993 the Liberal red book promised to establish an independent claims commission to resolve certain types of disputes between the government and first nations. In 1998 a joint task force report from the government and first nations also concluded that a claims commission should be independent and not controlled by the government, but in Bill C-6 the government has broken its promise to have a truly independent claims commission. In committee, the government rejected all amendments that would have brought independence to the commission.

Why is the Indian affairs minister no longer committed to an independent claims commission?

[Kyoto Protocol, November 25th, 2002]

Madam Speaker, on a point of order, I do not believe we have quorum in the House at this time.

And the count having been taken:

[Kyoto Protocol, November 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I believe you would find that there is no quorum in the House at this time.

And the count having been taken:

[Petitions, November 25th, 2002]

I have a second petition, Mr. Speaker. The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to order an independent public inquiry which in their view is the only way of shedding light on the close links between the Liberal Party and some advertising agencies which have received hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts from the government in the past nine years.

[Petitions, November 25th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, this petition has a couple of hundred names in total. The petitioners draw attention to the fact that adult stem cell research holds enormous potential and does not pose the serious ethical questions that stem cell research using embryos and aborted fetal tissue does. The petitioners request that the Parliament of Canada ban embryonic research and direct the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to support and fund only promising ethical research that does not involve the destruction of human life.

[Petitions, November 5th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is from those wanting to draw attention of the House to the scientific fact that a human being exists from fertilization on and therefore it is unethical to harm or destroy some human beings to benefit others, in other words human beings being destroyed in the process of taking their stem cells.

The petitioners would want adult stem cells promoted in a great way in the country with funding. They request that the Parliament of Canada ban embryo research and direct the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to support and fund only promising ethical research that does not involve the destruction of human life.

[Petitions, November 5th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have a number of names on a petition that draw attention of the House to the fact that modern science has unequivocally and irrefutably established that a human being begins at the moment of conception. They therefore request that the government bring in legislation defining a human fetus or embryo from the moment of conception, whether in the womb of the mother or not and whether conceived naturally or otherwise, as a human being, and making any and all consequential amendments to all Canadian laws as required.