44th Parl. 1st Sess.
September 20, 2022 10:00AM
- Sep/20/22 10:48:26 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise today and present a petition on behalf of Canadians across this country.
The petitioners are concerned about the possibility of the government imposing another values test on charitable organizations. The petitioners are asking that the government protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis without discrimination on the basis of political or religious values or the imposition of another “values test”, and that it affirm the right of Canadians to the freedom of expression.
92 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Madam Speaker, it is good to be back in this House after the summer recess.
I am rising to present two petitions. The first petition is in support of Senate Bill S-223, which seeks to combat the practice of forced organ harvesting, which is still going around the world. It is the practice of harvesting organs from healthy, living human beings without their consent, and the bill would combat this practice. The families of the victims of forced organ harvesting and trafficking have now waited almost 15 years for Canada to pass this legislation. It is time to end the delays, and the petitioners are calling on the House and on Parliament to now get this done.
118 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:50:54 a.m.
- Watch
I am not sure if the word “dishonest” was in that petition, but I would just ask members to make sure they are reading what is in the petition.
31 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:50:54 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, my second petition calls attention to the fact that the current government, in its 2021 platform, proposes to deny charitable status to organizations that have deeply held, genuine convictions about protecting life in the womb.
The Liberal Party considers these views to be dishonest, and this may jeopardize the charitable status of hospitals, houses of worship, schools, homeless shelters and other charitable organizations that do not agree with the Liberal Party of Canada.
The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to do two things: to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis and to affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression.
116 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:51:17 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, I am rising to present this petition on behalf of Canadians who feel that the Liberal Party of Canada promised in its 2021 platform to deny the charitable status of organizations that have convictions about abortion that the Liberal government views as dishonest. This jeopardizes the charitable status of hospitals, places of worship, schools, homeless shelters and so many charitable organizations that do incredible work in this country and would leave a huge void under these circumstances. Canadians depend upon and benefit from these charities.
The government had previously denied funding, tax dollars, to any organization that was not willing to check a box endorsing the political positions of the governing party. These petitioners believe that charities and non-profit organizations should not be discriminated against on the basis of their political views or religious values. They comment that all Canadians have a right to freedom of expression without discrimination under the Canadian Charter of Rights of Freedoms.
The petitioners are calling on the government to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis and to affirm the rights of Canadians to freedom of expression.
195 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:52:44 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, I, too, am standing to present a petition in the House of Commons today. The petitioners are concerned about the values test that the Liberals have promised to impose on charitable status organizations across the country. The government has previously used a values test to discriminate against worthy applicants in the Canada summer jobs program, to deny funding to any organization that was not willing to check a box endorsing the political positions of the governing party.
As such, the petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada and the House of Commons to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis and to affirm Canadians' freedom of expression.
119 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:53:35 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, it is good to be back in the House.
I am standing with countless Canadians who oppose this Prime Minister's values test. They call upon the House of Commons to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis without discrimination on the basis of political or religious values and without the imposition of another values test. They also ask Parliament to affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression.
81 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:54:11 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, on a point of order, when members stand up on a petition, they are supposed to be capturing the essence of the petition itself and not necessarily endorsing the petition. The member stood in his place saying, “I am standing with”, implying that he is fully endorsing the petition. That is something members know they are not supposed to do.
64 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:54:31 a.m.
- Watch
I appreciate the hon. parliamentary secretary's point of order. I do want to remind members that they cannot endorse petitions; they can be pleased to present petitions. Therefore, I will leave it at that.
I will allow the hon. member to speak to the point of order, but I do want to remind members again that they are to speak to the petition and not in support of the petition.
The hon. member for Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies.
83 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:54:57 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, just in response to that comment, the petition actually calls for a signature of endorsement of my own to endorse this petition in this House. I would just say—
32 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:55:11 a.m.
- Watch
Order. The hon. member cannot endorse the petitions. Those are the rules that the clerks give us as well: that we should not sign petitions.
Presenting petitions, the hon. member for Brantford—Brant.
34 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:55:33 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to be back in the House. I am pleased to present a petition signed by Canadians across this great country who are concerned about the government's values test. Charities and other non-profit organizations should not be discriminated against on the basis of their political views or religious values and should not be subjected to a politicized values test. All Canadians have a right, under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to expression without discrimination.
Therefore, the petitioners ask the government two things: to protect and preserve the application of the charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis without discrimination on the basis of political or religious values and without the imposition of another values test; and to affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression.
138 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:56:31 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, we know the Liberal government has previously used a values test to discriminate against worthy applicants to the Canada summer jobs program, and did so by denying funding to any organization that was not willing to check a box endorsing the political positions of the governing party of the day.
Therefore, I am presenting this petition. The undersigned citizens and residents of Canada call upon this House of Commons to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis without discrimination on the basis of political or religious values and without the imposition of another values test; and to affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression.
117 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:57:21 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, I present a petition signed by Canadians across the country who are concerned about a Liberal Party platform promise in 2021 to deny charitable status to certain organizations. The petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis. They are calling on this Parliament to affirm the rights of Canadians to freedom of expression.
72 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Madam Speaker, I have a second petition signed by a number of Canadians across the country who are in support of Senate Bill S-223, a bill that seeks to combat forced organ harvesting and trafficking.
36 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 10:59:07 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, the first petition I am tabling today is with respect to violent clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is timely in light of recent further aggression across the border from the Azeri side. Petitioners want to see peace, and they want to see a negotiated settlement.
Petitioners are calling on the government to act specifically around the issue of the continuing detention of Armenian prisoners of war. Petitioners ask the government to condemn the continuing illegal detention of Armenian prisoners of war, to call for their immediate release, to use all diplomatic tools to support this objective, to denounce state-sponsored hateful rhetoric and aggressive attacks from Turkey and Azerbaijan against Armenia and Artsakh, and to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to ensure the safety and viability of the population of Artsakh.
134 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 11:01:16 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, finally, I am tabling a petition that raises the concern of citizens about a Liberal plan to apply a political values test to charitable status determination. It is raising significant concern throughout the charitable sector that the Liberal plan to politicize charitable status will jeopardize the status of hospitals, houses of worship, schools, homeless shelters and other charitable organizations just because they do not agree with the Liberal Party of Canada.
Petitioners want to see the government protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis without discrimination, and they also want to see the government substantively affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression whether or not the Liberal Party agrees with them.
124 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Madam Speaker, the second petition I am tabling is similar to that tabled by a number of colleagues. It is to support Bill S-223, a bill to combat forced organ harvesting and trafficking. This bill has passed the Senate twice and the House once in its current form. It is now stalled at the foreign affairs committee, and petitioners want to see this bill passed as soon as possible. Families of victims have been waiting 15 years, and hopefully these delays will end.
84 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 11:01:22 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Questions Nos. 568, 570, 571, 576 to 578, 580 to 584, 587, 590 to 592, 594, 596, 599, 601, 603, 606, 608, 612, 613, 616, 617, 619, 620, 622, 626, 627, 629, 631, 634, 638, 641, 642, 644, 646, 647, 651, 658, 663, 668, 670, 684 to 687, 690, 695, 701, 704, 708 to 710, 713, 715, 717, 720, 726, 728, 733, 734, 739, 740, 742, 745, 751, 753 to 755 and 759.
82 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Sep/20/22 11:05:37 a.m.
- Watch
It is the questions that were read that were presented. Therefore, if the hon. member is not sure about those other questions, we certainly will take a look at that after and come back to the House if need be.
Is it the pleasure of the House that the aforementioned questions be made orders for return and that they be tabled immediately?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
66 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
