Mr. Speaker, this is indeed an important debate, one in which Canadians take a great deal of interest, and rightfully so. We are talking about the very country in which we exist. I believe it is important that all members of the House have the opportunity to debate a matter such as this. I am very pleased to be a part of this great and historic debate.
The member for Rimouski—Mitis talked about the Prime Minister having to go back to school to do his homework. I also heard somewhat of a lecture from the hon. member for Lotbinière, who seemed to indicate to the hon. member for Ottawa Centre that he too should go back to school.
That kind of arrogance and condescension really is inappropriate in the House. The hon. member opposite claims to be a communications expert. It seems to me that he should listen to his constituents, to the people of Quebec, and indeed to all Canadians. People do not want to go down this path, no matter where they live in this great country of ours. They want to talk about jobs. They want to talk about taxation levels. They want to talk about health. They want to talk about education. They do not want to talk about another referendum. They do not want to talk about the breakup of this great country. Quite frankly, we have better things to talk about.
The motion before us today is really quite frivolous. I certainly oppose it, and I would urge all members of the House to do likewise.
The Bloc has moved that the House legislative committee considering Bill C-20 hold hearings in all regions across the country. I ask, to what purpose? Why would we do that?
My colleagues and I understand the importance of this bill. I think everyone in Canada does. We understand the importance of consulting Canadians. However, I and others draw the line at insisting that the House committee cross this land to obtain input.
The committee can and will hear ample witnesses without having to travel. It is open to the public and we will hear a number of witnesses, all of whom will be invited, without any holdback, to attend. It is televised to Quebecers and to all Canadians. Through the television they can watch the deliberations of the committee.
The committee has decided in its own right to remain in Ottawa. This type of decision is its prerogative and I certainly respect that, as do other members of the House. I am confident that the committee will be able to fulfill its mandate and satisfy Canadians that it is an accessible and democratic process, one that is in place and one that will serve Canada well.
I can say, for example, as chairman of the health committee, that we deal with issues all the time of grave and great importance to Canadians, no matter where they live. We do not travel. We have other ways of doing it, in the sense of, through other mechanisms, allowing witnesses to come here and still have their say and input without having to go to that expense.
I remind the House that the committee examining the province of Quebec's Bill 99 is not travelling through Quebec. When the Quebec national assembly examined the Calgary declaration, Mr. Jacques Brassard, the Quebec Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Deputy Leader, said the issue was of primary concern for all Quebecers, but that committee did not travel either.
We hear one thing from the Bloc, but we hear quite another thing from the Government of Quebec. It is not always clear in terms of what the Bloc wants and how it wants to go about things.
Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Beauce.
Let me be clear that under Quebec's referendum law, when the national assembly examines a referendum question, it does not even have to refer the question to committee, let alone a travelling committee. Imagine that. It does not even have to refer the question to a committee. It does not even have to hear technical witnesses. It can debate the question and after 35 hours—a measly 35 hours—adopt it without listening to any public input whatsoever.
Why has the Bloc put forward this motion to have our committee travel? It does not strike me as being vital to the functioning of the committee examining Bill C-20. It is simply another example of the Bloc twisting and turning for its own purposes. Those purposes, I say, are twisted.
The committee has been tasked with studying the clarity act which the government holds as important and urgent. I believe that all Canadians do as well.
Bill C-20 follows the opinion of the supreme court. As political actors, the House of Commons and the Government of Canada have a duty to make their views known on how they should assess the circumstances of clarity that would trigger an obligation for the Government of Canada to negotiate secession.
In a recent press release from the Prime Minister's office it is important to note that the government indicated:
Insisting on clarity is about respecting the rights of Quebecers to make an informed choice. It is about respecting democracy. Those who choose to obstruct the democratic system with cynical delaying tactics to prevent a real debate should be held accountable for their own anti-democratic actions.
This is what the Bloc has been doing all along. It is not on this side of the House that it is undemocratic, it is on that side of the House. They are the anti-democrats. What we are seeing today is the proof and the proof justly shown. We on the government side will have no part of it and neither will Canadians. Bloc members are the ones accusing us of undermining the principles of democracy by tabling the bill in the House. Imagine. What nonsense.
On the contrary, the bill is about democracy. It reflects our democratic heritage by ensuring that Canadians would be asked a difficult yet clear question and that they would fully understand the consequences.
One of the criticisms directed against us in the House relates to the 50% plus one rule to define a majority which the Bloc members consider ironclad. We all know that it is an internationally recognized principle of democracy that 50% plus one does not always suffice. It is not difficult to understand that under some circumstances a majority of this amplitude is simply not enough. Would it justify so grave an action as breaking up a country such as ours? I do not think so.
A Reform member opposite caterwauls while this huge and historic debate is going on, asking what is the number. I would point out that in my view those Reformers opposite are every bit as much separatists as those other people opposite. It is unbelievable how they flip-flop on such an important issue. They have flip-flopped repeatedly when it comes to Canada.
I would ask the Reform member opposite and all his colleagues sitting in the House, why is it that the Reform Party does not stand up for Canada? Why is it that the Reform Party always wants to break things apart, pit society against society, people against people, region against region, province against province? Why is it that they are always intent on doing that? I do not know. What I do know is that Canadians reject that kind of nonsense and rightfully so.
The simple majority touted by the Bloc is not by any means absolute. How can we be criticized for opposing a simplistic vision of democracy which holds that a simple majority is sufficient to take such a serious and irreversible step? The rule of 50% plus one cannot apply when it comes to amending a province's political and legal status. This is only common sense and Canadians understand that. Canadians understand common sense.
We have tabled the bill because we believe that democracy is more than mere arithmetic, unlike the Reform Party and unlike the Bloc. They have always been close allies. Even at their own convention Reformers had Monsieur Biron, a separatist, as the lead speaker. Imagine, a separatist speaking at the convention for the Reform Party. Does that not tell Canadians a great deal about who those Reformers are and what they stand for?
We have tabled the bill because we believe in democracy. We believe it is important. It is a protection of rights. It is one of the four principles the Supreme Court of Canada said we must consider if ever we have to tackle the important issue of secession.
I want to be crystal clear. The Bloc's objective is not to have the committee travel but to destroy Bill C-20 by unreasonable delays. That is unacceptable. We on this side of the House will simply not allow it.
Let us defeat this motion. Let us expose it for what it is. Let us get on with the business of the House. That is what all Canadians want us to do.