Madam Chairman, I certainly condemn blackface. Blackface is abhorrent.
My understanding of what blackface means is the horrendous way in minstrel shows and then following that in film and theatre when white artists covered their face with black paint and pretended to be African Americans or Black Canadians. I don't necessarily understand that to be a symbol or an emblem.
The reason I chose the words that I did was because I looked at Mr. Julian's draft bill. I used the words that were in Mr. Julian's draft bill that is before the House. Those words said, “including” but not limited to. This is not limiting this. I said “such as” the Nazi swastika and the Confederate flag, which I believe is also a symbol of hatred against Blacks. That's why I chose the words.
I couldn't accept the friendly amendment, only because I don't believe that's a symbol or an emblem. But in the context of the questions, Ms. Lewis, that you would ask to the witnesses—and I believe we should have the national Black organizations there—I think questions could certainly be asked to them about what they feel and how blackface makes their members feel. I can only imagine how hurtful it is to all Black Canadians, and all right-thinking Canadians to see that.