Mr. Derek Lee (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments recently made by the government.

Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110(1) these are deemed referred to the appropriate standing committees, a list of which is attached.

Mr. Derek Lee (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table in both official languages the government's response to 16 petitions.

Ms. Susan Whelan (Essex, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present in both official languages the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Industry entitled “Productivity and Innovation: A Competitive and Prosperous Canada”.

The Standing Committee on Industry met with over 70 witnesses to discuss productivity, innovation and competitiveness. I would like to thank everyone who participated in our extensive hearings and for sharing their insights with us. I am confident that the public will agree that this report reflects both their concerns and common Canadian values and priorities in our ever evolving and productive economy.

On behalf of the committee I would also like to thank our clerk Richard Rumas, our researchers Daniel Shaw and Daniel Brassard and the interpreters and parliamentary staff for their assistance.

Mr. Charlie Penson (Peace River, Canadian Alliance)

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to comment on the standing committee's report on productivity and innovation.

I suggest that the committee did a good job in providing a 30 year history of the decline in productivity and documenting our current situation in terms of our productivity fall. However it failed to identify the underlying reasons for Canada's deteriorating productivity.

The official opposition believes that the role played by public policy during this period is a significant factor that needed to be examined. We suggest that the fundamental shift in government policy in the late 1960s and 1970s created the conditions that led to Canada's decline in productivity and therefore we offered a dissenting opinion to that effect.

Hon. David Anderson (Minister of the Environment, Lib.)

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-33, an act respecting the protection of wildlife species at risk in Canada.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Mr. Inky Mark (Dauphin—Swan River, Canadian Alliance)

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-474, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (percentage of gifts that may be deducted from tax).

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to introduce in the House today my private member's bill to amend the Income Tax Act. It pertains specifically to the percentage of gifts that may be deducted from tax.

In federal law registered charities do not receive equal treatment with federal political parties. The majority of Canadians contribute an average of $239 annually. If those dollars go to charities, the donors receive a reduced rate of tax credit compared to federal political parties. This bill is about taking away political advantage for political donations.

To date I have received over 30,000 signatures in support of this and a strong contingent of support from thousands of charitable organizations across Canada. I urge all members to consider supporting this very worthy piece of legislation.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Mr. Keith Martin (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, Canadian Alliance)

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-475, an act respecting the creation of sanctuaries for endangered species of wildlife.

Mr. Speaker, the situation right now with respect to endangered species in Canada is deplorable. More than 300 endangered species exist in our country but there has been a decline in habitat which is critically important for the existence of these species for future generations.

This bill provides for the species to be defined by a scientific group under the auspices of COSEWIC. It provides for habitat protection by obligating the federal government to engage in negotiations with private land owners and provinces. In the case that negotiations are unable to proceed further, the land can be taken over as a sanctuary, as long as the groups are compensated for the land at fair market value. Finally, it provides that people who own lands that contain sensitive habitats for species can receive benefits under the Income Tax Act.

This bill will go a long way in protecting our endangered species for future generations to enjoy.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Ms. Alexa McDonough (Halifax, NDP)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table in the House today a petition signed by approximately 700 Canadians, most of them from my riding but some from other parts of the country.

The petitioners remind the government of its commitment to work with all parliamentarians to eliminate child poverty by the year 2000. They express great concern about the dramatic and alarming increase in child poverty and call upon the government to fulfil that promise by introducing a multi-year plan to eliminate child poverty in the country.

Mr. Leon E. Benoit (Lakeland, Canadian Alliance)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition which like other petitions is on behalf of thousands and thousands of Canadians.

The petitioners indicate that there has been empirical evidence of the value of marriage as a cornerstone of public policy which produces tangible public benefits and that parliament has reaffirmed that marriage is and should remain the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. However, the government has brought forth Bill C-23 which extends marriage-like benefits to same sex couples. Therefore the petitioners pray that parliament withdraw Bill C-23 before it is passed today.

Mr. John O'Reilly (Haliburton—Victoria—Brock, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the pleasure to present a petition from people of Haliburton—Victoria—Brock. The petitioners pray that parliament act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the criminal code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.

Mrs. Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral (Laval Centre, BQ)

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my pleasure to table a petition bearing 128 signatures. The petitioners call upon parliament to move quickly to pass legislation requiring the labelling of all foods that are genetically modified, in whole or in part.

Mr. Peter Goldring (Edmonton East, Canadian Alliance)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from over 400 Canadians mostly from the province of Alberta.

The petitioners are asking and demanding that the Prime Minister keep his promise regarding ministerial accountability. They are demanding the resignation of the Minister of Human Resources Development and are asking the auditor general to oversee a full and independent inquiry into HRDC management and accounting practices.

Mr. Eric Lowther (Calgary Centre, Canadian Alliance)

Mr. Speaker, I also wish to present a petition. These petitioners are joining with about 4,000 petitioners as of a week ago. We have had petitions every day on this particular topic.

They call upon parliament to withdraw Bill C-23 to affirm the opposite sex definition of marriage in legislation and to ensure that marriage is recognized as a unique institution.

Mr. Rick Casson (Lethbridge, Canadian Alliance)

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today on two different subjects. The first petition is three separate ones.

The petitioners, who are my constituents, are calling for parliament to withdraw Bill C-23. They say that a bill which fails to define marriage in legislation as a union of one man and woman, a definition which was affirmed by the House on June 8, 1999, is an inappropriate intrusion into the personal lives of Canadians and extends benefits only to a relationship of a sexual nature. They would like the bill withdrawn.

Mr. Rick Casson (Lethbridge, Canadian Alliance)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the another petition, pursuant to Standing Order 36.

These petitioners feel that Canadians are overtaxed. They are demanding that the federal government account for the gross mismanagement of their tax dollars in the HRDC department. They are also requesting the immediate resignation of the HRDC minister and that the auditor general conduct a full and independent inquiry into HRDC management and accounting practices.

Mr. Reed Elley (Nanaimo—Cowichan, Canadian Alliance)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to rise in parliament to present a petition signed by hundreds of Canadians from New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta.

Once again they join with thousands of other Canadians across the country in asking that the government withdraw Bill C-23, affirm the opposite sex definition of marriage in legislation and ensure that marriage is recognized as a unique institution.

Mr. Ken Epp (Elk Island, Canadian Alliance)

Mr. Speaker, I too have the privilege of standing in the House today to present a petition.

This one is interesting because in this one package we have petitioners from New Brunswick, Quebec, the Ottawa region, Manitoba and Calgary. They are from right across the country.

These petitioners, as some of the others who have already presented petitions, are asking and urging parliament to withdraw Bill C-23. It goes against everything they believe in.

Mr. Jason Kenney (Calgary Southeast, Canadian Alliance)

Mr. Speaker, I rise as well to table about 100 signatures from Alberta and Ontario objecting to Bill C-23, adding to the tens of thousands of others that have been tabled which ask that the government withdraw the legislation and protect the institution of marriage.

Mr. Derek Lee (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

I ask, Mr. Speaker, that all questions be allowed to stand.

Is that agreed?