House of Commons Hansard #37 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was americas.

Topics

Summit Of The AmericasGovernment Orders

3:45 a.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, to close this debate at 10 minutes to 4 o'clock in the morning, I would like to make one point related to loss of freedom. Loss of sovereignty has recently been mentioned by a few members.

When people join a family they give up some freedom, some sovereignty. For example, they cannot choose the same holidays. However, there is a larger benefit. When I chose to live in a subdivision I could not drive as fast as I wanted. I had to give up some freedoms, some sovereignty, but it was for something better in my life. When I decided to live in the city of Whitehorse, one of the great cities of Canada, I was not allowed to light firecrackers indiscriminately and I could not make noise late at night. However, it is a great city to live in and what I have gained is more than what I gave up. It is all part of the great social contract.

When I chose to be part of the Yukon territory I gave up certain things. I cannot drive at certain speeds. I cannot take my boat to go fishing down Teslin Lake from Yukon territory into B.C. without another fishing licence. However, the Yukon territory is a great place to live and there is a great co-operation among Yukoners. They are wonderful people. What I have gained is greater than what I gave up.

When I decided to live in Canada, I accepted laws and rules that I have to follow as part of the great social contract. For example, I must have a passport to leave Canada and to get back in. However, I chose that because what I have gave up is less than what I have achieved.

When countries joined the United Nations after the second world war, they gave up some of their sovereignty so that such horrific things as the two world wars would never happen again. They gave up sovereignty for something better.

The same applies to world treaties on landmines and to anti-nuclear treaties. With the FTA we gave up tariffs between Canada and the United States so that companies could not hide behind tariff barriers, stay uncompetitive and not create as many jobs as they could otherwise. They could have high prices because of the tariff barriers, thus affecting poor people in both countries. We gave something up, but I believe it was for the better. As the member from Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca said earlier tonight, we gave up some international control so we could have better social programs and a better environment in some of the countries abusing these things.

From my perspective, we gave up our sovereignty to join the United Nations and rid ourselves of the dictatorships in the world and rid ourselves of the autocratic governments that were abusing people, as well as to prevent the possibility of such things happening in the future. To me, it was worth it to give up that sovereignty and join the larger sovereignty of humanity, the greatest democracy of all humankind. To me, that was worth it.

Summit Of The AmericasGovernment Orders

3:45 a.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, I have no question, just a comment. I would like to thank you and the staff of the House of Commons for participating in this debate and helping us to get the message out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my best to all the pages and the clerks and to everyone who helped make this evening a success. I thank them.

Summit Of The AmericasGovernment Orders

3:45 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Good night and good morning. There being no further members rising, pursuant to order made Wednesday, March 21, the House stands adjourned until later this day at 2 p.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24.

(The House adjourned at 3.50 a.m.)