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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 149

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
January 30, 2023 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 149 - Jan/30/23
Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)
  • Jan/30/23 2:43:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Quebec has the legitimacy required to democratically make its own societal choices. That is why it is unacceptable for the federal government to threaten to attack the notwithstanding clause. The notwithstanding clause is the only provision that guarantees to Quebec and the provinces that the federal government and the judges it appoints will not be the only ones to decide what we have the right to do in our province. The Quebec premier stated that it was a direct attack on the ability of our nation to protect its collective rights. Will Ottawa back off?
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Context: House Hansard - 149 - Jan/30/23
Hon. David Lametti (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.)
  • Jan/30/23 2:43:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government has always been very clear with respect to concerns about the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause by the provinces, and we are considering all our options. We are strongly committed to defending the rights and freedoms protected by the charter, a charter that was created to protect minorities across Canada. We have been clear and we will continue to be clear in the future.
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Context: House Hansard - 149 - Jan/30/23
Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)
  • Jan/30/23 2:44:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a passage about the notwithstanding clause: “It is a way that the legislatures, federal and provincial, have of ensuring that the last word is held by the elected representatives of the people rather than by the courts.” Those are the words of Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Even Pierre Elliott Trudeau recognized the importance of the notwithstanding clause in a healthy democracy. Now his son is doing the opposite. He wants the courts to take the last word away from elected officials. Will the government back down?
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Context: House Hansard - 149 - Jan/30/23
Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)
  • Jan/30/23 2:45:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know the Liberals want to challenge Bill 21 on secularism, but Bill 96 is about the French language. Attacking the notwithstanding clause is to be expected. They want to make absolutely sure Quebec will never be able to introduce bills like 21 and 96, never be able to stand up for its collective rights, never have the right to its own distinct values. Basically, the problem is that Quebeckers are different and they cannot accept that.
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Context: House Hansard - 149 - Jan/30/23
Hon. Dominic LeBlanc (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, Lib.)
  • Jan/30/23 2:45:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague has a lot of parliamentary experience. He knows that the Government of Canada's position has not changed. We have always expressed concerns about the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause. My hon. colleague mentioned the last word. This should not be the first word. It should be the last resort. We accept and understand the purpose of the notwithstanding clause, but we will never agree to it being used pre-emptively. That should come as no surprise to my colleague.
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