Mr. Ross Stevenson (Durham):

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions.

One is signed by approximately 400 people in the riding of Durham who call on the government to establish legislation which would result in a binding referendum of the people on constitutional amendments.

Mr. Ross Stevenson (Durham):

Mr. Speaker, the second is also from the riding of Durham, and is similar to the petition just read by the member for Hamilton East.

The petitioners call on Parliament to change the Criminal Code, the Bail Reform Act and the Parole Act as they relate to crimes of violence.

Mr. Sergio Marchi (York West):

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of presenting the House with a petition collected by Mrs. Rita Hogg.

The petition deals with numerous signatures from the metropolitan city of Toronto petitioning and requesting the government to amend the Narcotics Control Act so that the profits from the seizures of drugs, which are proliferating unfortunately in the streets and communities of metro Toronto and elsewhere, will be shared with local municipalities, police forces and community organizations, which are the principals in the fight against

June 10, 1992

Routine Proceedings

drugs, so that the proceeds, rather than going completely and exclusively into federal coffers, will be shared with those entities so that in fact we may win the war. It was a pleasure as well to be able to raise it during Question Period earlier today. It is hoped by this party and by many Canadians that the many repeated promises of the Solicitor General to amend the Narcotics Control Act will see the light of day in the very near future.

Mr. Ronald J. Duhamel (St. Boniface):

Mr. Speaker, my first petition is from my constituency and other sectors of Manitoba asking that the taxation system be made much more clear.

The petitioners point out that the tax act is complex, unfair, and somewhat unintentionally discriminatory. They point out, for example, the child care credit that some people get while others who choose to stay home to rear their children do not.

Mr. Ronald J. Duhamel (St. Boniface):

Mr. Speaker, my next petition deals with a request from petitioners, many of them from my constituency, who want the CRTC to monitor very closely the use of language on radio and television.

Many feel that there is foul and inappropriate language being used and it counteracts the efforts of the family to set a good example.

Mr. Ronald J. Duhamel (St. Boniface):

Mr. Speaker, my final petition represents petitioners from Labrador. They point out that in today's society we need the best educational systems possible, particularly to meet challenges of globalization, increased competitiveness and enhanced productivity.

They indicate that there have been serious cutbacks that will affect the education of young people in Canada and asks that all policies that could prevent young people from attending college and university and other training programs be reviewed immediately.

Mr. Ray Skelly (North Island-Powell River):

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from the residents of Bella Coola and Hagensborg, B.C. asking by way of petition that the House restore a full northern tax allowance to the residents of northern and remote communities.

The petitioners point out that small, remote single-industry communities pay very high prices. They do not have access to basic medical services, health care, government services, and the cost of transportation is extremely high. They ask that the full northern tax benefit be restored to those communities.

Hon. Pauline Browes (Scarborough Centre):

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 and as the member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre, I wish to submit this petition on behalf of my constituents this petition.

It outlines the petitioners' concerns relating to issues in Sri Lanka. They request that the parties in Sri Lanka negotiate and settle differences in order that all the people in that country may live in peace and freedom.

Hon. Alan Redway (Don Valley East):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House a petition that was gathered and prepared by my constituent, Mrs. Eileen MacDonald. All of the signatures on the petition are exclusively from the Don Mills area of my own constituency, and most of them from 18 The Donway East.

This particular petition relates to a matter that was before the House a short time ago, that being the referendum bill. It calls upon Parliament to enact a referendum bill that is binding upon Parliament in order to accept or reject constitutional amendments proposed by the government, the acceptance or rejection of the proposed amendments to be determined by a majority vote of the total votes cast in the whole of Canada, together with a majority vote in a majority of provinces with the territories being given the status of one province.

The government and the House has dealt with part of this. I trust that we will be receiving a positive response from the government and the House on the other part of it.

June 10, 1992

Routine Proceedings

Mr. John Harvard (Winnipeg-St. Janies):

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36,1 have the honour and privilege of presenting a petition on behalf of many residents of my riding. The petition cites the cancellation of the federal Co-operative Housing Program which was highly successful in creating healthy mixed income communities.

Its cancellation has eliminated 2,000 new co-op housing units for 1992 alone, along with 4,000 construction and manufacturing jobs for the same period. Moreover, approximately 164,000 renter households want to move into co-op housing.

Therefore the petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to urge the government to immediately reinstate the federal Co-operative Housing Program and commit the $6.1 million to the program which had been planned for 1992 and permit approximately 2,000 co-operative housing units to be sponsored this year.