Evidence of meeting #34 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was c-51.
7:30 p.m.
As an Individual
What kind of joke is this? You're running around because one guy shot somebody and one guy knifed somebody, and there's this nuclear threat around the world and there are five bullies sitting at the United Nations Security Council. Those challenges of nuclear threat and climate change are a lot more important and deserve a lot more of your attention that this petty threat that you ask about.
Having said that, let me make the point—
7:35 p.m.
As an Individual
Before you end it, I want to say that instead of cutting our time to two minutes, you could have extended the time that you are here to three hours instead of two hours. Why couldn't you do that?
7:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
We have a formally scheduled meeting. We have members who have other work to do.
7:35 p.m.
As an Individual
In a city like Toronto, two hours is not enough [Inaudible—Editor].
7:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
David Henderson is next, and then the last one will be Dimitre Popov.
7:35 p.m.
David Henderson As an Individual
Good evening. My name is David Henderson. I'd like to start by expressing my gratitude for the opportunity and the forum to speak here tonight. I think it's very important. I also appreciate that my concerns are going to be part of a broader public record.
I come here tonight as a citizen, a taxpayer, a father, a husband, and a son. I came here tonight because I'm appalled at the human rights and privacy violations that are taking place in Canada. It saddens me to know that my 10-year-old son has never had the benefit of a day with true privacy. I'm shocked that, in Canada, my daughter or my mother could be picked up without warrant, without benefit of charter rights, without counsel, without charges, and be detained.
What the federal government is doing to law-abiding, taxpaying citizens is shameful. The fact that it is being carried out in the name of national security insults my intelligence. All you have to do is look at the return on our investment with this matter. The fiscal waste should be enough to repeal this law, and the long-term and far-reaching social costs should be the nails in its coffin.
I'm going to leave you with a quote from Ben Franklin that succinctly sums up the very important issue in front of us and our country tonight: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
Thank you.
7:35 p.m.
Voices
Hear, hear!
7:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I wasn't in Parliament when it was debated. I think you would have to ask the government of the day, which put it in, what their intention was.
7:35 p.m.
As an Individual
I have another question. Do you know how many people are killed by drunk drivers every day in Canada?
7:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I don't know the answer to that. We're dealing with a bill right now about that as well, so I'm sure we'll get that research.
7:35 p.m.
As an Individual
Okay, I will tell you: the answer is three people a day, which amounts to over 1,000 people killed by drunk drivers in Canada. Now, the question is, how many people die a day as a result of a terrorist act on Canadian soil?
7:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I know how many have been killed in recent years. I know that Canada and Canadians are one of the largest communities affected by death, with Air India, which was a huge tragedy that affected a Canadian population. There have been other incidents since then.
7:35 p.m.
As an Individual
That's a good answer, but I didn't hear the number. I asked you about the number of people people killed.
7:35 p.m.
As an Individual
Okay. I will tell you: approximately one or two.
Now I have another question.
7:35 p.m.
Liberal
7:40 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes, Canadians, so you agree: about one to two people died.
7:40 p.m.
A voice
[Inaudible—Editor] streets of Toronto. How's that?
7:40 p.m.
As an Individual
Okay. Let's show respect for each other.
My argument is that the government—