Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I shall continue with my quotation:
The hotheaded comments by the Minister of Human Resources Development demonstrate a flagrant lack of respect toward thousands of Canadians and Quebecers who have chosen Canada as their adoptive country and who wish to exercise in complete safety, freedom and dignity all of the rights, duties and privileges conferred upon them by Canadian citizenship.
I would encourage you not to stand for this type of xenophobia which is unworthy of our parliamentary traditions and our fundamental values as a pluralistic, fair and democratic society. The minister in question must be made to apologize.
Continuing with another quotation, from the Ligue des Noirs du Québec:
La Ligue des Noirs du Québec is totally scandalized by the words of the federal Minister of Human Resources Development concerning Bloc Quebecois MP Oswaldo Nunez. We find his words insulting, discriminatory and profoundly racist.
They are calling for a public apology to all Canadians who have been deeply offended by these statements.
This morning's Le Devoir contained an article which said the following:
We must not hesitate in condemning the words of the Minister of Human Resources Development concerning the Quebec MP of Chilean origin. To state, as the Minister of Human Resources Development did, that a new Canadian MP ought not to be allowed to criticize Canada's immigration policy and that he ought to find another country, smacks of xenophobia.