SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 207

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 6, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 207 - Jun/6/23
Mr. James Bezan (Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, CPC)
  • Jun/6/23 10:54:24 a.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-47 
Mr. Speaker, it is again a shame that we are moving to closure. We are undermining the parliamentary democracy we have, and the most shameful thing is that the government is being supported by the NDP, which is supposed to be an opposition party but is acting like it is a bunch of Liberals. Throughout history, normally a government that moves closure can count on only maybe once or twice during a parliamentary session getting the support of any of the opposition parties to support a closure motion like we have right now, stymying debate. In fact, if we look back, since the time of Tommy Douglas under the NDP until Thomas Mulcair, the NDP supported closure only 14 times in the 17 Parliaments during that time span. However, here we are today, under the leadership of the NDP leader, the member for Burnaby South, and the NDP is going to support closure for the 35th time. What has happened to the NDP that it has squandered its principles under Tommy Douglas, of being an effective opposition, and is instead supporting the Liberals and undermining our constitutional right to debate all the bills they bring before the House?
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Context: House Hansard - 207 - Jun/6/23
Ms. Monique Pauzé (Repentigny, BQ)
  • Jun/6/23 11:02:37 a.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-47 
Mr. Speaker, I am just trying to quickly tally up all the attacks on democracy that have happened since I was first elected in 2015. I remember that, from 2015 to 2019, even with a majority, the government moved one closure motion after another. I cannot list every single one, but there was an awful lot. I also remember a back-to-work bill to end the postal strike during my first term. During my second term, certain motions got majority support here in the House of Commons, including a Bloc Québécois motion to increase the disability benefit period to 50 weeks. It was adopted by the majority, but the government has done nothing. Then there is Chinese interference. Three motions got majority support, but the government has done nothing. I do not agree with the Conservatives' strategy to block debate, but I also disagree with the government's string of closure motions. I would actually like the Liberals to tell me their definition of democracy.
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