Evidence of meeting #5 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was event.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Oh, I see. That's interesting.
Here is another quick question about the participants themselves. Did the uniformed participants involved here receive any threats that were communicated to you in any which-way? Were they saying to you that they were receiving threats from individuals and therefore they were not particularly excited and were nervous about getting involved with this?
4:25 p.m.
Chair, National Battlefields Commission
Are you referring to the “re-enactors”? Yes. You have to take this situation into account. Earlier, I explained the issue involving security. At the Canada Day celebrations, for example, one group of individuals tries to keep the demonstrators to one side and the other visitors to the other side, and the police position themselves between the two groups.
In this case, the individuals are free to do what they like. The leave the camp in the evening to go to the city and have a good meal with some good wine in one of Quebec City's restaurants. At that point, we have no further control over these individuals. If there is an anti-British soldier atmosphere, guys who go into the city dressed in their red uniform become an outlet for certain people, and there's nothing we can do about that.
After speaking with the “re-enactors“, we decided that we could not guarantee their safety adequately in the camps or elsewhere. The threat was a little more serious, but it was the type of event that made all of this very difficult to control.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I would like to ask you a question about the site where you work in cooperation with the Quebec government. You have been doing that for a number of years. You spoke about 15 years.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
That includes the eight years during which the Parti Québécois was in power.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
4:30 p.m.
Chair, National Battlefields Commission
We have always had good relations with all governments.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
I must confess that my constituents were shocked to hear that a group of extremists funded by the Bloc had threatened Quebeckers with violence and thus violated their freedom of expression.
4:30 p.m.
An Hon. Member
People are not allowed to say just anything.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Just one second. Just tone it down a little bit, please.
Point of order. Ms. Lavallée, keep it very short, please.
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair, and I want to speak.
What Mr. Poilievre says is false. The Bloc Québécois does not fund extremists. I would like him to withdraw his comments. I'm asking you to have him withdraw his comments, Mr. Chair.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
I hope that doesn't come off my time.
My constituents are justifiably shocked that a group of extremist thugs who have received financing from the Bloc Québécois have threatened Quebeckers with violence and have censored the freedom of expression of Quebeckers. I am here today to express that viewpoint
by stressing the facts. The February 21, 2009 issue of Le Soleil reported:Every year since its creation in 2001, Le Québécois gets close to 80% of its advertising revenue that is, $8,000, from the BQ and the PQ.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First and foremost, I'm going to ask you to respect points of order. Second, I would like to make it clear that the publication Le Québécois is not on today's agenda.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Conservative