CANADA VOLUME 133 S NUMBER 233 S 1st SESSION S 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, September 28, 1995 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) The House of Commons Debates and the Proceedings of Committee evidence are accessible on the Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 14957 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, September 28, 1995 The House met at 10 a.m. general has reported that the gun control law has been a successful and cost effective measure which has increased _______________ public safety and reduced violent crime involving the use of firearms. Prayers The auditor general’s report would have to be considered by a _______________ 12–member committee comprised of six MPs and six experts on firearms law. The committee report would also have to be presented to and concurred in by the House of Commons or a ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS sunset provision would take effect immediately. [English] To argue against this type of sunset provision people would have to argue that they support gun control even if it does not GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS work and no matter how much the gun control costs. Mr. Peter Milliken (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of No one is arguing that gun control is unnecessary, only that the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speak- the police time and resources should be spent on measures that er, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, get the best bang for the buck. That is exactly what the bill does. in both official languages, the government’s response to 13 petitions. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.) * * * * * * [Translation] PETITIONS INTER–PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS RIGHTS OF THE UNBORN Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to Mr. Tom Wappel (Scarborough West, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I table in both official languages the report of the Canadian have three petitions to present this morning. section of the International Assembly of French–Speaking Parliamentarians as well as the financial report concerning the The first petition contains 495 signatures from the North York meeting of the Co–operation and Development Commission of area in the federal riding of York Centre. It deals with the the IAFSP, held in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 4 and 5, 1995. protection of human beings, in particular, the protection of the unborn child. It prays that Parliament immediately extend * * * protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to [English] unborn human beings. FIREARMS LAW SUNSET ACT It is my understanding that these signatures were collected Mr. Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville, Ref.): moved within a matter of a few hours in one day. for leave to introduce Bill C–351, an act to provide for the EUTHANASIA expiry of gun control legislation that is not proven effective within five years of coming into force. Mr. Tom Wappel (Scarborough West, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, my second petition concerns the subject of euthanasia. Quite a He said: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce number of people from all across Canada have signed the my firearms law sunset act today. My bill is seconded by the petition. It prays that Parliament ensure present provisions of hon. member for Beaver River and co–sponsored by a number of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be members of Parliament. I thank my colleagues for their support. enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the If the bill is passed by Parliament it would provide a five–year law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of sunset provision on all gun control legislation unless the auditor suicide or active or passive euthanasia. 14958 COMMONS DEBATES September 28, 1995 Routine Proceedings WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to pursue initiatives to eliminate tax discrimination against fami- Mr. Tom Wappel (Scarborough West, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, lies that decide to provide care in the home for preschool the third petition is signed by a number of people from across children, the disabled, the chronically ill and the aged. Canada, primarily from southern British Columbia and the Surrey, B.C. area. It deals with the subject of witness protection, BOVINE SOMATOTROPIN in particular, my Bill C–206. Mr. Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions. The first is from The petitioners call on Parliament to pass Bill C–206 to give 35 concerned citizens from my riding of Yorkton—Melville who statutory foundation for a national witness relocation and are opposed to the approval of synthetic bovine growth hor- protection program. mone, known as BGH or BST. The drug is injected into cows to increase milk production. I am pleased to note for these petitioners that the government The petitioners are concerned not only about health risks to has brought in just such a bill which hopefully will be debated the dairy cows, but also the serious risks to humans, including very shortly in the House. breast and colon cancer. They urge Parliament to keep BGH out of Canada until the year 2000 by legislating a moratorium on THE ENVIRONMENT sales and use and until the outstanding health and economic questions are reviewed through an independent and transparent Mr. Mac Harb (Ottawa Centre, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pur- review. suant to Standing Order 36, I have the pleasure and the honour to GOVERNMENT SPENDING introduce a petition signed by Canadians from New Brunswick, British Columbia, Ontario and elsewhere. Mr. Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by my constituents who The petitioners call on Parliament to institute complete are concerned about high government spending. Given that recycling, waste reduction, energy and resource conservation Canadians are already overburdened with taxation, these peti- and clean–up and air pollution programs. tioners urge Parliament to reduce government spending and implement a taxpayer protection act to limit federal spending. D (1010 ) HUMAN RIGHTS Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Lib.): PARLIAMENT HILL Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the hon. member for Hull—Aylmer, I am pleased to table a number of petitions. The first petition asks Mr. Mac Harb (Ottawa Centre, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have that Parliament not enact legislation which indicates societal another petition signed by Canadians from Quebec, Ontario and approval of same sex relationships. elsewhere. These petitioners call on Parliament to allow people EUTHANASIA to use the grounds of Parliament Hill for the purpose of public Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Lib.): interest. Mr. Speaker, a second petition asks Parliament to make no changes in the law which would sanction the aiding and abetting This petition is signed by people from all over the place. I of suicide or active or passive euthanasia. really do not understand the motives behind it but nevertheless I would like to table it. RIGHTS OF THE UNBORN Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Lib.): INCOME TAX Mr. Speaker, the third petition asks for the same protection for unborn human beings as those who are born. Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table these petitions on behalf of the hon. pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition which member for Hull—Aylmer. has been circulating all across Canada. This petition has been CRIMINAL CODE signed by a number of Canadians from the Vancouver, Surrey and Delta areas of British Columbia. Ms. Roseanne Skoke (Central Nova, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the privilege to present to The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the the House today a petition on behalf of 459 constituents in my House that managing the family home and caring for preschool riding. children is an honourable profession which has not been recog- Child Safe of Pictou county believes that all sex offenders nized for its value to our society. They also state that the Income who are being released from incarceration should have to inform Tax Act discriminates against families that make the choice to the media that they are being released. This will allow the media provide care in the home to preschool children, the disabled, the to inform the communities of Nova Scotia of the names and chronically ill or the aged. addresses of the offenders being released. September 28, 1995 COMMONS DEBATES 14959 Government Orders Child Safe feels that this is of vital importance to protect the psychological damage that unfortunately may leave lasting safety and well–being of our children. scars. COMMUNICATIONS If we want to improve public safety, we must act quickly and Mr. Ronald J. Duhamel (St. Boniface, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, use the most effective means at our disposal. That is why we this petition from almost 1,000 Canadians asks the CRTC to have opted for a comprehensive approach consisting of legisla- regulate all forms of violence and abuse on television. tion and other measures that will help us deal with the problem on all fronts. As you know, Bill C–45 contains major amend- The citizens believe that one needs not to be shocked to be ments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act that will educated, to be informed, to be entertained. These petitioners increase public safety. applaud the CRTC hearings on this subject, violence on televi- sion, which are being held right now and to which I might add I The principal changes include amending the provisions on the had the honour of presenting a brief last Monday in Winnipeg, detention of sex offenders who attack children.