(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
She said: Madam Speaker, this legislation will adopt an official oath of allegiance to the flag of Canada. No such oath presently exists. The flag is an important symbol in our lives. We remember British fishing boats flying it in support of us. We look with pride when it is raised at the Olympics. We see it on the sleeve of our peacekeepers. It is a unifying symbol of respect and tolerance throughout Canada.
The oath can be recited at school or before meetings, wherever the flag is prominent. The bill calls on a committee to consult with Canadians regarding the wording. As this will be an oath which will be used by Canadians, it is important that they participate in its wording. Canadians are proud of their flag and what it means to us and to the world.
This legislation will give Canadians an official oath to acknowledge its importance in all of our lives.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
He said: Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce my private member's bill, which is an act to amend the Criminal Code, so that it includes a statement of intent about victims' rights and provides for the application of those rights within the legislation.
The bill will provide recognition of the importance of victims' rights in criminal law. It will achieve a greater balance between the rights of the victims and the rights of the accused and those who are convicted of crime.
This bill works to protect the rights of victims and deals with restitution, the right to information and the right to be heard. We have a responsibility to the protection of victims' rights in this country. I call on all members to support this bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
He said: Madam Speaker, I have the honour to introduce a bill that would amend the Criminal Code to allow people with terminal or incurable illnesses, who are often suffering terrible pain, anguish or indignity that cannot be relieved by palliative care, to seek the assistance of a physician to end their life at the time they choose.
The current legislation, which dates back to 1892, can be extremely cruel to those who are dying and to their families and loved ones.
Sue Rodriguez and Austin Bastable are two people who lived their lives and faced their deaths with great courage and dignity. They urged the Minister of Justice in their final days to introduce this legislation.
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice have both promised a free vote on this issue. I join with many Canadians in urging them to honour that promise.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
He said: Madam Speaker, the purpose of the bill I am introducing today is to repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code, the section that allows corporal punishment of children by parents and teachers.
Condoning corporal punishment can lead to physical and psychological injury and even ultimately to the death of children. It contributes to violence in society and is contrary to both the charter of rights and freedoms and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Section 43 allows punishment causing bruising and contusions. It allows children to be struck with belts and other objects. It is a relic of a bygone age and has no place in a democratic society that respects and values children.
Finally, I would note that several European countries have ended the legal approval of corporal punishment with very significant, positive results. I urge the government to uphold the rights of children and repeal this harmful and discriminatory section of the Criminal Code of Canada.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
He said: Madam Speaker, I have the honour to table a bill establishing a national refugee awareness day on April 4 of each year. Because of my origins, this is something I hold dear. The Geneva Refugee Convention was signed in July 1951. It has been ratified by Canada.
On April 4, 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down its decision in the famous Singh case saying that the charter of rights and freedoms applied to refugees as well. This day will help make Canadians more aware of the often dramatic situation of refugees.
(Motion deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
The petitioners call on the government to make sure that criminals do not profit from committing a crime.
(1530)
The petitioners request that Parliament proceed immediately with amendments to the Criminal Code that will ensure the sentence given to anyone convicted of driving while impaired or causing injury or death while impaired reflect both the severity of the crime and a zero tolerance by Canada toward this crime.
The first comes from Russell, Ontario. The petitioners draw to the attention of the House that managing the family home and caring for preschool children is an honourable profession which has not been recognized for its value to society.
The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to pursue initiatives to eliminate tax discrimination against families that decide to provide care in the home for preschool children, the disabled, the chronically ill or the aged.
The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to enact legislation to require health warning labels to be placed on the containers of all alcoholic beverages to caution expectant mothers and others of the risks associated with alcohol consumption.
[Translation]
This petition asks Parliament to halt immediately all testing of explosives at the National Defence Proof and Experimental Test Establishment located at Nicolet-Sud in the riding of Richelieu. According to the petitioners, this testing is causing shock waves that are damaging to both property and people and therefore is harming the environment of the people in the surrounding municipalities and in Lac-Saint-Pierre.
[English]
The first is from residents of my riding of Prince George-Bulkley Valley. They are concerned that Parliament does not include among human rights a right to behaviour that is considered morally wrong, that marriage plays a pivotal and societal role in the stability of the family, and that any legislation such as Bill C-265 which might weaken the family unit is the antithesis of a sensible social policy.
Therefore the petitioners pray that Parliament defeat Bill C-265 in order to protect marriage and the family from the possible social upheaval that might be caused by its passage into law.
(1535)
Scarborough West, at the earliest opportunity in order to provide that in Canadian law no criminal profits from committing a crime.
They pray and request that Parliament proceed immediately with amendments to the Criminal Code that will ensure the sentence given to anyone convicted of driving while impaired or causing injury or death while impaired reflects the severity of the crime and zero tolerance by Canada toward this crime.
The petitioners state that Canadians deserve a real say in how our scarce health care dollars are spent and which health care procedures they consider to be essential.
They request that Parliament support a binding national referendum to be held at the time of the next election to ask Canadians whether they are in favour of federal government funding for abortions on demand.
Residents of Delta, B.C. call on Parliament to urge the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health to commit to a renewal of the funding for the national AIDS strategy at current levels.
[Translation]
[English]
The petitioners pray that Parliament enact Bill C-205, which prohibits criminals from exploiting their victims through profiting from their crimes. I would like to add that I endorse this petition 100 per cent and have already spoken on this bill in the House.
Mr. Jesse Flis (Parkdale-High Park, Lib.): Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my elected duty to table petitions signed by residents from different regions of Ontario regarding the national AIDS strategy.
Whereas the national AIDS strategy funds and co-ordinates prevention, education, support and research in Canada, and whereas the national AIDS strategy expires March 31, 1998, while at the same time AIDS infection continues to rise, the petitioners call on Parliament to urge the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health to commit a renewal of the national AIDS strategy to at least the current levels of funding.
[Translation]
This petition is signed by more than 300 residents and these signatures are in addition to the many already tabled. I am also pleased to support this petition and to inform the House that, this week, the Quebec Minister of the Environment, who finds this project unacceptable, has given me his support.
[English]
It notes that a new regulation proposed by Health Canada will result in the banning of some imported Italian Parmesan cheese as well as some other types of cheeses, that small cheese factories and specialty cheese stores will be adversely affected, that Health Canada has not adequately demonstrated the health benefits of this proposed regulation.
Therefore the petitioners call on Parliament to urge the government not to proceed with the proposed regulations concerning unpasteurized cheese. I strongly support that.
(1540 )
The petition opposes the presence of nuclear powered and nuclear armed vessels in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, and calls on Parliament to end the agreement allowing nuclear powered and nuclear armed vessels to use CFMETR in the Strait of Georgia.
The petitioners therefore request that Parliament not proceed with the a federal excise tax on gasoline and strongly consider reallocating its current revenues to rehabilitate Canada's crumbling national highway infrastructure.
The petitioners request that Parliament not amend the Constitution as requested by the Government of Newfoundland. They request that the problem of education reform in that province be referred back to the Government of Newfoundland for resolution by some other non-constitutional procedure.
The petitioners call on Parliament to urge the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health to commit to a renewal of the national AIDS strategy at its current level of funding.
[Translation]
These petitioners ask that Canada sign this convention and I support this petition.
[English]
The petitioners pray and call on Parliament to enact Bill C-205, introduced by the hon. member for Scarborough West, at the earliest opportunity so as to provide in Canadian law that no criminal profits from committing a crime.
sentence regime of between seven and fourteen years as an appropriate sentence for that crime.
The petitioners urge Parliament to establish an energy pricing review commission to keep gasoline prices and other energy products in check.
[Text]
Question No. 37-Mr. Duncan:
What is the amount of financial assistance provided by the federal government for Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge, Quadra Island, B.C., for; (a) construction of the lodge; (b) operation of the lodge; and (c) total federal contribution to date since its inception?Mr. Paul Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): I am informed by the Departments of Human Resources Development and Industry as follows:
a) b) c)
Human Resources
Development Canada $92,834 $114,542 207,376
Industry Canada $1,800,000 $311,275 $2,111,275
$1,892,834 $425,817 $2,318,651
The following federal government departments have no information on this subject: Canadian Heritage, Fisheries and Oceans, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada.
[English]
Mr. Zed: Madam Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.
The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais): Is that agreed?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais): Is that agreed?
Some hon. members: Agreed.