Mr. Jesse Flis (Parkdale-High Park, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, I have a third petition which I wish to present concerning co-op housing. The petitioners call on the government not to cave into the Ontario government but to preserve co-op housing as it exists today.

Mr. Jesse Flis (Parkdale-High Park, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of International Cooperation.

Some of my constituents are concerned about the lack of food, medicine and affordable energy in Bulgaria. The country recently elected a coalition government to replace the previous unstable communist regime. Can the minister tell me what Canada is doing to help alleviate the humanitarian instability in Bulgaria?

Mr. Jesse Flis (Parkdale-High Park, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is with great sadness that I table this petition.

The petitioners grieve that whereas Jacqueline Mariana MacLellan, born as a Canadian citizen, was kidnapped by her father on October 27, 1996 and taken to Bermuda; whereas the mother, Marguerite M. Kopaniak, holds a custody order awarded by the Supreme Court of Ontario which found that the father, Peter R. MacLellan, is in contempt of said court; and whereas Bermuda is not a signatory to the Hague convention, thus eliminating the generally adhered to rules to return abducted children to the country of original jurisdiction, the petitioners call on Parliament to take action to have the Bermuda authorities recognize and honour the Canadian jurisdiction over this child and cause for the child to be returned to Canada into the care and custody of the mother.

Mr. Jesse Flis (Parkdale-High Park, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition which I wish to present concerning NATO. The petitioners ask that central and east European countries be allowed to enter an enlarged NATO, excluding non priori.

Mr. Jesse Flis (Parkdale-High Park, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, today I draw attention to a recent international poll conducted by Angus Reid entitled "Canada and The World".

The poll was designed to identify the main attitudes of the international community toward Canada, and I am pleased to say the findings were not surprisingly positive.

Canada is internationally recognized as a tolerant and diverse nation. Its social assistance and health programs are world renown, as is our reputation for peacekeeping and human rights preservation.

Canada is regarded as a resource based economy with natural endowments sought after the world over. Furthermore, those polled indicated that Canada boasted a relatively clean environment that is home to vast scenic beauty across a diverse geographical landscape.

Among the concerns voiced by respondents, Canada needs to come to terms with its treatment of aboriginal peoples, a sentiment shared by last year's royal commission report on aboriginal peoples.

Furthermore, Canadians and others indicate their concern regarding the future of Canada's youth in terms of opportunity and employment.

I am pleased to say that the recent budget included positive steps-