SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 150

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
January 31, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 150 - Jan/31/23
Mr. Denis Trudel (Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, BQ)
  • Jan/31/23 12:03:54 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-35 
Madam Speaker, I am having a hard time figuring out what the government is thinking these days. Most of the time, the feds seem to be telling Quebec how it should do its job. Take Bill 21, for example. The feds say Quebec does not have the right to pass a secularism law, that it is ridiculous and that the way Quebec is using the notwithstanding clause is just wrong. They are doing the same thing with Bill 96. They say Quebec does not have the right to do that, and they are going to stop it. Here in Parliament, the feds say they want to protect French, yet they want to undo Bill 96. They say Quebec does not know how to handle health care, so they want to tell it what to do. They will send the money, but they will tell it what to do with that money. Then all of a sudden, the government comes out with this bill and says how amazing and fascinating and inspiring Quebec is and how we should do exactly what Quebec did because it works and Canada can really learn from Quebec. What exactly is going on inside the federal government's head?
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Context: House Hansard - 150 - Jan/31/23
Mr. Yves-François Blanchet (Beloeil—Chambly, BQ)
  • Jan/31/23 2:27:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, ironically, the notwithstanding clause is a legacy that was strongly endorsed by Pierre Eliott Trudeau at the time. The rooster is about to crow for the third time. According to what the minister said yesterday, he has nothing against the notwithstanding clause, he is against its pre-emptive use. The thing is, it can only be used pre-emptively. It is like a vaccine. We do not get vaccinated because we are sick, we get vaccinated to avoid getting sick, and we use the notwithstanding clause to avoid going to the Supreme Court. If it cannot be used pre-emptively, then what is the notwithstanding clause for?
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Context: House Hansard - 150 - Jan/31/23
Hon. David Lametti (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.)
  • Jan/31/23 2:28:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government has always been clear about its concerns regarding the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause by the provinces and about the fact that we are weighing all of our options. We are strongly committed to defending the rights and freedoms protected by the Charter, which was in fact created to protect minorities across Canada. In the dialogue between Parliament and the courts, the first word should not be the last.
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Context: House Hansard - 150 - Jan/31/23
Mr. Yves-François Blanchet (Beloeil—Chambly, BQ)
  • Jan/31/23 2:28:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the representative appointed by the Prime Minister has a rather unflattering view of Quebec. A discussion about Quebec's history and secularism would do Ms. Elghawaby some good. The Prime Minister knew what he was doing. He and the Liberal Party will stop at nothing to strip the Quebec National Assembly of its authority, particularly when it comes to language and secularism, which must be protected. The notwithstanding clause is the last line of protection. Are the Prime Minister and his government disavowing the legacy of Pierre Elliott Trudeau?
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Context: House Hansard - 150 - Jan/31/23
Hon. David Lametti (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.)
  • Jan/31/23 2:29:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Pierre Elliott Trudeau's Charter was created to defend the rights and freedoms of individuals. The same is true of René Lévesque's original charter. We are proud of Canada's traditions when it comes to charters and protecting minorities. The pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause goes against the spirit of these charters and the dialogue between Parliament and the courts. As I just said, the first word should not be the last.
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