Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-369, an act to amend the Holidays Act (Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day), and to make consequential amendments to other acts.
I must admit that when I first saw this bill I thought it was just another example of Liberal partisanship, but then I noticed that the member had also introduced Bill C-370, an act to amend the Holidays Act to designate January 11 as Sir John A. Macdonald Day.
Yesterday the president of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation Board, Adrienne Clarkson, appearing before the Canadian heritage committee, illustrated the need to do more to encourage our youth to learn more about their country.
A recent survey revealed very disturbing findings on our knowledge of history. An alarming percentage of young Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 who were surveyed could not say in what century Confederation took place or who we fought against in the first world war.
Twenty-four per cent of university graduates did not know that our Constitution had been repatriated.
We need to do more to help educate our students and in fact all Canadians about our rich history and heritage. This bill is a step in that direction. I would like to thank the member opposite for his continued interest in promoting the history of this great country.
The PC Party wishes to see the great historical figures of our country commemorated and their exploits celebrated. Let me be clear in saying that our party would not have a problem with amending the Holidays Act to include Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day to be commemorated on November 20. We would support a day of commemoration, just as my colleague from Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough proposed a day of commemoration for our fallen police and peace officers.
However, we do not support a paid holiday. A holiday with pay does not guarantee greater awareness of key points in Canada's history and costs an excessive amount to the country's employers.
In preparing for this debate I came across a February 1997 edition of Maclean's magazine that reported the findings of a survey of 25 well-known Canadian historians and scholars. They were to rate our prime ministers. Sir Wilfrid Laurier came in third might I add behind Sir John A. Macdonald.
Many referred to Laurier's legacy to Canadians as that of being a splendid orator and a master of political compromise. It is quite obvious when we look across this House today that those Liberal shoes were too big to fill.
In closing, I am proud to note that Sir Wilfrid Laurier was the first French Canadian to become Prime Minister of Canada. The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada has no objection to November 20 being designated Sir Wilfrid Laurier day and the Minister of Canadian Heritage being given the task of recognizing the contribution by Sir Wilfrid Laurier and other great Canadians to the development of this country. However, it does oppose this day's becoming a mandatory paid holiday.