Mr. Speaker, I say to you, I am not the slightest bit intimidated by the minister's remarks. They only strengthen my cause, my decision to continue the fight, my sovereignist convictions. He will not stop me. He will not drive me out of this country. He will not tell me what to do. I have already survived a dictatorship. I can survive here for years and years, even if the attacks are tough, personal, discriminatory, and even racist.
This is not the first time I have been attacked by members of the Liberal Party of Canada. My former adversary in the riding of Bourassa, Denis Coderre, never accepted defeat. Last year, at a public meeting, he made some disagreeable remarks about me, in the presence of the Minister of Labour. He never dissociated himself from these remarks. My former adversary wants to bring back the deportation act and get rid of me, because I do not espouse the federalist cause. He accused me of spitting on the Canadian flag.
Let me tell you, I have never spat on anyone's flag. I have great respect for flags, particularly the Canadian flag, because it is the symbol of a country and is close to people's hearts, they love it.
Why is this Minister of Human Resources Development making such comments? The present Minister of the Environment and former Minister of Immigration is not from here. He was born in Argentina and is a member of the Italian community in Canada. I do not recall the Conservatives ever asking him to leave Canada because, in his criticism of them as a member of the official opposition, he did not share the views of the Conservative government then in power.
I profoundly regret the silence of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in this matter. It is her role to promote tolerance. And what has she said to date? Nothing.
I profoundly regret the silence of the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Immigration, who has also had nothing to say. I profoundly regret the silence of the hon. member for Saint-Denis, who is also the chair of the Citizenship and Immigration committee, also of ethnic origin, and has not dissociated herself from the remarks made by the Minister of Human Resources Development.
There is much to be understood from their silence. I would like them to react, as they did when Mr. Parizeau made improper remarks about the ethnic Quebecers.
I must also frankly acknowledge the solidarity of certain Liberal members who have come to see me and have, discreetly, expressed their support. They have told me that they are not pleased, and cannot support the views and the attacks of the Minister of Human Resources Development against me.
I am also pleased that this incident has triggered a debate on the place of the cultural communities in Canadian society. Are immigrants and refugees full-fledged citizens, or are they not?
Fortunately, there have been newspaper articles and editorials in a number of papers, including the Montreal Gazette , which is not a sovereignist publication.
"But Mr. Young was out of line this week when he singled out Osvaldo Nunez, the Bloc Quebecois MP for Bourassa, to criticize him for supporting Quebec independence. Mr. Nunez has the right to support independence. Citizens, old stock and new, enjoy equal freedoms. All have the right to express their views and to be politically active. Mr. Nunez has the right to voice his opinions just
like any other Canadian. If freedoms are to have value they need the respect of all Canadians. Mr. Young should apologize". This is from the Montreal Gazette . Le Devoir and La Presse devoted editorials to the question. I thank all those who sent me their support. The FTQ, by labour federation, sent me a message this morning. The Canadian Jewish Congress does not support my sovereignist ideas, but is fighting so that all citizens may enjoy the same rights, particularly the freedom of speech.
The B'nai Brith Canada League for Human Rights, the Chilean and Latin American community, the American multi-ethnic centre, the premier of Quebec, who condemned the remarks of the Minister of Human Resources Development and a Montreal lawyer, Richard Kurland, have all expressed support. If I may, I would like to quote from the lawyer's letter, because it speaks for a lot of people who are concerned by the minister's remarks. Unfortunately, I cannot find it.
I would not want a repetition of this incident, because it damages the reputation and the image of Canada and of all Canadians.
I was given a mandate by the people. I want to continue to fulfil this mandate, to fight for justice, equity and a pluralistic society more open to immigrants and refugees.