Mr. Speaker, it is true that I have a Canadian passport, like all of my Bloc Quebecois colleagues, but I hope one day we shall be able to have a Quebec passport.
The minister refers to his Italian roots. I would reply that all of his Italian friends, at least all those I know in Quebec, are not in the least pleased with the comments made by his fellow minister. On the contrary, they are unanimous in their condemnation. I have not seen a single article today in the press defending the untenable, unsustainable, unbelievable, unparalleled comments made by the Minister of Human Resources Development.
I have here the editorial by Mrs. Agnès Gruda in today's La Presse . She sees the Minister of Human Resources Development's words as a reflex that ends up stigmatizing the 'Other', the foreigner, for the political problems one has not been successful in solving''. She adds:Before sinking any further into this quagmire, with its slight scent of xenophobia, it would be in the Prime Minister's best interests to acknowledge that the immigrant in question has had Canadian citizenship for donkey's ages. Let his party respect the rules of democracy. The hon. member for Bourassa is fully grown, has had all his shots, and is entitled to his
opinions. And his political commitment is as legitimate as the next person's".