SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 157

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 9, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 157 - Feb/9/23
Mr. Yves-François Blanchet
  • Feb/9/23 10:31:51 a.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, there was a self-congratulatory tone to my esteemed colleague's comments. I can see why he feels a need to defend the minority, because he is the only Quebecker in his party, as opposed to 32 members of the Bloc Québécois. All things being equal, and since everyone's voice deserves to be heard, we certainly do not speak less for Quebec than he does, so we will not remain quiet. I do not think that he remains quiet or hesitates to say what he thinks just because there are 32 members who do not agree with him. The opposite will certainly not happen. The Constitution is intended to provide guidelines for institutions, not to pre-emptively judge how it will be used. In his role as the member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, our colleague finds himself in a position where he must serve a group of NDP members who are chronically ignorant about Quebec. He is therefore forced to defend things that we, and many other Quebeckers, find indefensible. It is his judgment against that of the people who will vote when called upon.
194 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 157 - Feb/9/23
Mr. Jean-Denis Garon
  • Feb/9/23 4:59:07 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, Canadians are interested in democracy in constitutional matters when they outnumber the minority nine to one. We saw this in 1982. We saw it in 1867, when it was pretty much everyone against Quebec, and we saw it in the previous constitutions, when it was the monarchy against us. Yes, Quebeckers are a minority. I think that Quebec should be sovereign, and that would be much better for everyone. Nonetheless, the notwithstanding clause can be used in a very healthy way, and its use, by definition, is preventive. What we are doing today is making sure that everyone can read a definition. Evidently, that is not always the case.
111 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border