SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 165

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 7, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 165 - Mar/7/23
Hon. Mark Holland (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)
  • Mar/7/23 2:30:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is the height of irresponsibility, when talking about national security, to talk about the fact that national security should just be set aside and we should just open this up as if it could be done. It is not something that I think is being responsible. Responsible leadership is saying that every single member of the House is totally and utterly committed to protecting Canadian democracy. The assertion that anything else is true is offensive and untrue. Playing games with national security is not appropriate.
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Context: House Hansard - 165 - Mar/7/23
Hon. Mark Holland (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)
  • Mar/7/23 2:32:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member across, the leader of the official opposition, would know well where the Prime Minister is today. He is meeting with the president of the European Commission to talk about national security issues— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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Context: House Hansard - 165 - Mar/7/23
Hon. Mark Holland
  • Mar/7/23 2:33:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, of course that question was asked, despite you saying that it was unparliamentary several times. I want to put that as a matter of record. Let me say this and be very clear. One of the things that we had as a long tradition in our country was to make sure that when we were dealing with national security, we did not use national security as a way to play partisan politics and to grind an axe on one other. The reality is that this issue of foreign interference has been a serious issue since well before this government. It was a matter that the member across was responsible for as a minister. They did not take action. We have—
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Context: House Hansard - 165 - Mar/7/23
Hon. Mark Holland (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)
  • Mar/7/23 2:52:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have every reason to believe that the member opposite, for the entirety of his life, has fought for Canadian democracy. I would believe that he knows that I have done the same. I believe that he would know every member in this House has done the same. I believe the member opposite would also know that foreign interference is a threat to our democracy, and that the objective of any nation to interfere in our democracy is not a threat against a party or a government, but a threat against our democracy. We are united in making sure that foreign interference is repelled. National security cannot be played with. We need to deal carefully and delicately—
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Context: House Hansard - 165 - Mar/7/23
Hon. Mark Holland (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)
  • Mar/7/23 2:54:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, first, it is elections and democratic process that decides who gets out of the way, not the members opposite. Second, I would say that, back when Justice O'Connor and Justice Iacobucci issued their reports talking about the need for parliamentarians to be able to see into every corner of government, it was the Conservatives who opposed that idea. The secret committee they are maligning and attacking is one on which their own members sit, where they are given the opportunity to see into every corner of government, where they are able to see every document that is protected by national security. I hope that the party opposite is not suggesting that we should say to our Five Eyes partners that all of our national security information should be put on display.
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