Mr. Speaker, why did I get down on my knees in this subservient position during this debate on Bill C-55? Why did I clasp my hands behind my neck in a symbol of submission? It is because that is what we are doing.
Time and time and time again we cave in to the American interests. Just once we would rejoice in this House to stand up for Canadian interests, just one time. Whether it is on the softwood lumber deal, whether it is on the salmon deal on the west coast, let us just one time stand up for Canadian interests and Canadian sovereignty and stop caving in and dropping to our knees the minute an American walks into the room.
Listen to this. This is astonishing. When the government votes on this legislation, we are agreeing to the following definition of Canadian content in publications: “If it is created for the Canadian market and does not appear in any other edition or one or more periodicals published outside of Canada”.
It means if a resident of Waco, Texas writes a story about crime in the streets of Dallas and it is published in Maclean's magazine, that is Canadian content. If we look at the writings of Jesse Helms about the situation in Cuba and it is not printed anywhere else except in a Canadian publication, that becomes Canadian content.
To the Minister of Canadian Heritage, who in their right mind dreamt this up? Who in their right mind could stand in this place and say “I believe that a Texan writing about Texas is Canadian content”. That is what we are being asked to approve in the House this afternoon.
It is disgraceful. Anybody in our country who is interested in Canadian culture when they watch how people vote today will find out who really supports developing Canadian culture.
To conclude, I think I have demonstrated clearly what I think should be the appropriate posture for every Canadian, and particularly every parliamentarian, when we get into the discussion of Canada-American relations. We should assume the Liberal negotiating position, either on our knees or with our hands in the air as a symbol of complete submission. It is unfortunate, but unfortunately that is the case.