Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Nunatsiaq.
I welcome the opportunity to remind the House of the great strength and flexibility of Canada's constitutional structure and justice system, and the primacy of the rule of law, of democracy in this great country of ours. Too often in the debate about the future of Canada, the constitutional and legal foundations of our country are characterized as irrelevant, ineffective or to be discarded.
This country's Constitution and justice system form the bedrock of our society. They are powerful vehicles for preserving the values that underlie life in a democratic society. They are in large part what makes Canada the much admired country that it is. They were built by generations of Canadians, including Quebecers. Our Constitution and justice system are not without their legitimate critics, but we should consider the motivation of those proposing this motion.
Too often we hear criticisms of a system that has served Canadians well for over a century and a quarter, a system that has made Canada's justice system among the most admired in the world. Too often we hear the defamation of a constitutional framework and a modus vivendi within that framework that has made us the envy of the world.
We must not be seduced by too clever rhetoric, surreal perceptions of this country. We must not ignore the reality of how well this country does, in fact, work. We must not ignore how well this country has served Quebecers, whose interests the Bloc Quebecois professes to represent.
It is essential for all Canadians, those in every province and territory, to appreciate the strength of the values that underlie our Constitution and justice system.
Have Canadians from whatever corner of this land done so badly by our constitutional principles, by our justice system, by our commitment to freedom and the rule of law and by our much admired ability to compromise to serve the interests of all Canadians? The answer in every case is clearly no.
Canadians are the beneficiaries of one of the most egalitarian justice systems in the world, and all this in a country that is among the most prosperous and peaceful in the world. In a world beset by economic turmoil and violence, should we not consider ourselves among the very fortunate, despite the musings of the members of the official opposition?
Our political structure and justice system have not been imposed on Canadians. They are a product of continual debate and well-intentioned compromise. Decades of effort by Canadians from all walks of life, be they elected representatives, public servants, members of interest groups or ordinary Canadians, have produced a confederation that serves Canada well today and will continue to do so in the future.
Those who participated in this process of building the underpinnings of Canadian society have strived to make our systems workable and flexible. All have fought to establish the democratic freedoms and human rights that we now take for granted. Quebecers have been at the fore of the many legal and political advances that have shaped this country. They too have built this country and its institutions. Now members of the opposition would have us believe that these institutions, the development of which so strongly was influenced by the minds and souls of Quebecers, come from outside or do not serve them.
Canada is populated by diverse cultures, by diverse groups, yet our Constitution serves them all. It is not a prison preventing the realization of the aspirations of Canadians. It is our home. Our Constitution is a flexible vehicle that permits the goals of all Canadians to be accommodated. It is a vehicle that allows the values so important to the many cultures within Canada to be respected and maintained.
What are the underlying values in Canada's Constitution and its justice system? Certainly, foremost among these values is the preservation of freedom and respect for human dignity. Those who created Canada shared a fundamental commitment to freedom, representative democracy and the rule of law. This commitment not only laid the basis for the Constitution of 1867, but set the direction for its continuing evolution.
Canada is also a peaceable society. Surely this is one of our most enduring characteristics. Canada was built out of accommodation, not revolution. It endures through the same process today.
Our legal system is built on the foundation of the rule of law. We have a strong an independent judiciary, one that reflects the character of our nation. Three of the nine judges of the Supreme Court of Canada come from Quebec. No other province has such a guarantee. As the President of the Treasury Board said so eloquently in the House in December 1994, the soul of Quebec will
continue to influence and define Canada as a country for a long time to come through its impact on the Supreme Court of Canada.
Thus Quebec not only continues to influence the direction of the supreme court, but our highest court itself is the product of a society based on the rule of law and respect for individual rights. We are blessed by a trusted judiciary that permits us to resolve our disputes in a civilized, lawful manner. All this we accomplish under the fundamental notion of the rule of law.
As I stated earlier, Canada's governments and its justice system must conform to the fundamental requirements of the charter of rights, another reflection of our respect for the rule of law. Our charter provides fundamental freedoms, the right to freedom of expression, freedom of peaceable assembly and freedom of association among them. It asserts the democratic rights of all our citizens. It protects accused persons in their interactions with the state through safeguards on arrest, detention and interrogation. It ensures that criminal proceedings are carried out in a manner which respects the rights of the accused.
The charter provides equality before and under the law and affirms French and English as the official languages of the country. Never forget the Supreme Court of Canada required Manitoba to ensure its laws were written in both official languages in accordance with the Constitution. New Brunswick has enshrined similar rights. Let us not forget the Canadian model of federalism which has brought such strength to the country.
Let us remember Canada's federalism creates a common identity and purpose that can transcend differences without replacing joint local identities and local communities. Federalism provides the structure of an economic union but places it under control of a democratic legislature.
Federalism allows minority groups to exercise democratic control over their communities and to tailor laws and government services to meet their own needs and goals. Federalism allows Canada to care for all its people. It allows different communities within Canada to resolve various issues while at the same time offering their elected representatives the chance to be part of national policy making.
Canadian federalism today is very different from that of the time of Confederation. Contrary to the rhetoric of the official opposition, federalism is flexible.
Federalism is capable of listening and responding to the needs and goals of its members. It can adapt and evolve to serve the changing needs of Canadians, but federalism must always serve to reinforce the many sided character of Canada: a home for many peoples, a land of two linguistic majorities, a free and democratic society, a strong economic community, a community that provides equal opportunity and economic security, and an important player on the international stage.
Amidst all these democratic institutions as an integral part of Canadian federalism, under a legal system premised on respect for individuals and the rule of law, Quebecers have prospered. They have shared in the creation and evolution of these democratic institutions. They have shared in the progress that has brought Quebecers to the highest offices of the country, to unsurpassed success in education and culture, and to the heads of many of Canada's largest and most productive corporations. All this they did within Canada, within the present democratic, constitutional and legal framework.
Has Quebec done so badly under this system, as members of the opposition would like Quebecers to believe? The answer is clearly no. Canada is a country of freedom, tolerance and compassion. Quebecers, like their fellow citizens across this great country, have benefited from a governmental system that serves their historical cultural interests within the community of cultures that constitutes Canada.
The government's vision for Canada is one that builds on its finest traditions and grows to serve all Canadians and all of Canada in its wonderful diversity.
I assure the House the government will continue to abide by the true principles of democracy and by the rule of law in its dealings with the many issues facing the country, including those brought forth by the members of the opposition.
We intend to follow the principles that have made this country strong, democratic and tolerant as we deal with those who wish to tear us asunder. We will not stoop to measures that would do a disservice to the principles on which our country was founded.