Madam Speaker, the member for Winnipeg North Centre seems to be speaking from both sides of his mouth. The students were merely exercizing the civil right to express disagreement, which has been recognized for as long as there has been a Canada, a Quebec, a New France.
This was all planned ahead of time. Along with the big cans of pepper spray came out wet towels to wipe off one's eyes. On the one hand, the government plans to invest more than $2 billion in millennium scholarships for our young people in Canada and Quebec. Nothing is too good for our youth to ring in the new millennium.
On the other hand, as the end of this millennium nears, actions are being taken here, in Canada, that were unheard of in a democracy, actions that only Russia, Iraq or Iran would have taken. And they are refusing to provide a few million dollars so that recognized lawyers can be hired for the students. This is scandalous, from a government that claims to be democratic and to respect civil rights.