44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 1, 2022 02:00PM
- Jun/1/22 2:31:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister said that he wanted to challenge Quebec's legislation on the secularization of the state “given the vast implications for all Canadians across the country”. However, there are no implications for Canada. That is pure nonsense.
This concerns Quebeckers and Quebeckers alone. Quebec's state secularism law is the will of Quebeckers, was passed by Quebec members of Quebec's National Assembly and applies only in Quebec. I think it is quite clear. Canadians have nothing to do with it. It is none of their business. What does the Prime Minister not understand about that?
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- Jun/1/22 2:32:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am certain I must have misheard. Surely the hon. member did not mean to suggest that all those who disagree and who are challenging this law before the courts in Quebec are not true Quebeckers.
We will always stand alongside anyone in Canada who wants to defend their fundamental rights, those rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If this does end up before the Supreme Court, the government will be there to defend minority rights, as it always has.
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- Jun/1/22 2:33:02 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers want to reinforce state secularism where we live, in Quebec. That is for us to decide.
Quebeckers are not telling Canadians what to do in Canada. If the people of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, want the state and religion to go hand in hand, that is not our problem. They can go ahead and tattoo “In God We Trust” on their faces if they want. We could not care less. It is none of our business.
Quebeckers want state secularism. That is what we voted for. Why would Quebeckers allow Canadians to force religion back into our state affairs?
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- Jun/1/22 2:33:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out to the hon. member that his “where we live” is also where I live. I am a Quebecker, and I have every right to make sure that the rights of all Quebeckers get the same respect as those of people elsewhere in the country.
The federal government's job is to make sure that the rights of Canadians across the country are upheld and protected. If this law ends up in the Supreme Court, we will be there to defend and protect the fundamental rights of all Quebeckers and all Canadians.
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- Jun/1/22 3:03:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, let us recap. The Prime Minister says that he will challenge Bill 21 and that Canada must be able to dictate Quebec's vision on state secularism. He then says that he wants to limit the scope of the notwithstanding clause to ensure that Quebeckers will never again have the right to adopt legislation that upsets Canada. He is saying that Quebec will never get the immigration powers it is calling for so that it can better integrate newcomers.
At this point, what does the Prime Minister have to say to the Quebeckers who want to make their own democratic choices? Is the only option independence?
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- Jun/1/22 3:03:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think my esteemed colleague in the Bloc Québécois skipped a step. All Quebeckers are also Canadians, and as Prime Minister of all Canadians, I have a responsibility to protect every individual's fundamental rights. This is something that I will always do, knowing that protecting my beautiful French language is a central priority for our government and for myself, as a Quebecker.
Therefore, yes, we will assume our responsibility of protecting the fundamental rights of Quebeckers, who are also Canadians.
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