Evidence of meeting #30 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was flyer.
A recording is available from Parliament.
December 8th, 2009 / 11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
May I suggest that tricks of that sort not be repeated, Mr. Chair.
Thank you.
Conservative
Conservative
The Acting Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
We have the clock stopped. The clerk is not sure whether a witness is allowed to get a document that is in one official language. That's what she's checking on.
We'll continue with the questioning.
Liberal
Irwin Cotler Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Yes, I am ready to reply.
I was at that speech. That was not the only time that Mr. Ignatieff said that to imply any false moral equivalence between a terrorist organization like Hezbollah and a country like Israel, acting in self-defence, is an odious slur. He clearly in that speech threw that out. If anybody can't read that as an apology, then they can read other matters.
I have the best evidence, Mr. Chair, and not my words. I will read this into the record today.
The person who first publicly accused Mr. Ignatieff with respect to that statement was none other than my wife. She wrote at that time a letter to the National Post. The National Post wrote that the former justice minister's wife criticizes the Liberal leader.
It was at that time, if you will, a kind of media event.
Mr. Ignatieff apologized thereafter to my wife, but the Conservatives continued to keep using the fact of my wife's letter against me, against my wife, against the Liberal Party.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Mr. Chair. I've never made reference to his wife--
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
--and I'm not going to make reference to his wife.
Conservative
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
The question was whether Mr. Ignatieff apologized. In the speech that Mr. Cotler identified there was no apology. In fact, in the exact same speech where this alleged apology occurred, he said he should have characterized Israel's actions as, “Israel may have failed to comply with the Geneva Conventions and the laws of war”.
Conservative
The Acting Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
Sorry, Mr. Poilievre, your time is up.
Listen, we need to have order here. We're trying to conduct this meeting in a calm, rational fashion. Unfortunately, it's getting....
I would ask the members to please refrain from talking across the table.
I would like us to continue, please.
Conservative
The Acting Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
No, I'm sorry, the seven minutes are up.
Mr. Guimond, your seven minutes start now.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Cotler, I want to ask you some questions to find out what kind of person you are. Please answer fairly quickly, so I have time to discuss the issue at hand.
Before becoming an MP, 9 or 10 years ago, what did you do?
Liberal
Bloc
Liberal
Irwin Cotler Liberal Mount Royal, QC
I taught constitutional law, human rights and international law.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
You already mentioned it, but I want to hear you say it again. What is your religious denomination?
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
How many Jewish people are there in your riding?
Liberal
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
You represent roughly 100,000 people in your riding, is that right?
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
And 25% of those are Jewish.
How many synagogues does your riding have?