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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 35

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 20, 2022 07:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 35 - Feb/20/22
Mr. Francis Drouin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.)
  • Feb/20/22 1:59:00 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Vancouver Granville. It is not an honour for me to speak to this motion, today. I want to say that I do not hate the members of the Conservative Party, the Bloc Québécois, the NDP or the Green Party; I do not hate people who do not share my political agenda; I do not hate people who are unvaccinated. In fact, I have some friends who are not vaccinated. We have had good, respectful discussions. Sometimes, I made some good points, and sometimes they made some good points. We still like each other and we are still friends, to this day, because we have discussed things respectfully. I have no problem talking to people who do not share my views, as long as those discussions are based on facts. I support the right to protest. However, like any right or freedom, protests have limits. Section 1 of the charter states: The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. The charter recognizes that there are limits, and these limits must be reasonable. This leads me to ask the following questions. Is it reasonable to protest on Parliament Hill? Is it reasonable to protest in the streets of a municipality for a day or two? My answer to these two questions is “of course”. Is it reasonable to protest for three weeks in the streets of a municipality, limiting the freedoms of those who live in this municipality? My answer to this question is “no”. Is it reasonable to protest by blocking borders in areas of significant economic activity?
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Context: House Hansard - 35 - Feb/20/22
The Deputy Speaker
  • Feb/20/22 2:17:39 p.m.
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I thank the hon. member for her comments. I completely agree that we are here to discuss and to be heard. That is the main reason we are here. There are a lot of opportunities to ask questions and make comments after the speeches are finished. The hon. member for Vancouver Granville has the floor.
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