Debates of Feb. 6th, 2002

Foreign Affairs

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the whole point is that there will not be any fair elections in Zimbabwe. Since the ministers met, Robert Mugabe has been gagging the press, brutalizing his own people and hiring thugs to murder his own civilians.

Will the government do the right thing to ensure a fair election by unilaterally imposing sanctions including dismissing Zimbabwe's high commissioner to Canada now?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. member opposite has a sincere interest in the well-being of people in Africa. I am sure he will agree with me that the government's policy of ensuring that we can have Commonwealth inspectors there during the election process is the best way to go. We can then deal with the government of Mr. Mugabe after that process has taken place.

The government has firmly indicated that it will take the necessary steps to protect the people of Zimbabwe.

The Monarchy

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, some months ago, the Deputy Prime Minister described the monarchy as an out of date and obsolete institution and indicated that it might be time for Canada to give some thought to having its own head of state.

Can he tell us whether he is still in agreement with the statement he made at that time?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, today we wanted to pay tribute to Her Majesty, and the opposition did not want to give us authorization to do so. For a celebration such as this, all MPs ought to have joined in an address to be made by either the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister.

Foreign Affairs

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Yesterday the minister's colleague, the Deputy Prime Minister, stated that we take the position that there must be some kind of process to make the determination of the status of prisoners that are captured by Canada. There is no process in place now.

I want to ask the minister a very straightforward question. Why does Canada continue to say that we will turn over prisoners to the United States when there is no process in place? Why are we showing such contempt for international law?

[Bill Graham, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the answer of the Prime Minister in the House today made it very clear that we have a long tradition of co-operating with our ally, the United States, on the understanding that international law and the Geneva conventions will be applied.

Mr. Rumsfeld himself has given this assurance and we will continue to ensure that this does take place in accordance with international law and the Geneva conventions.

Privilege

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a question of privilege.

During oral question period, the Prime Minister accused me, along with my colleagues, of having become the defenders of terrorists.

He said, and I quote, “Therefore, it was not imprudent on the part of the government, in the context of our fight against terrorism, to side with a nation that was attacked and not become the defenders of terrorists, as the Bloc Quebecois has”.

I am raising this question of privilege because this is, in fact, an attack on our reputation, not only my own but that of all members of the Bloc Quebecois.

From the very beginning of this crisis, after the terrible events of September 11, we have raised the necessity of dealing with the terrorists, but in so doing, to quote the Prime Minister, “setting the example of democracy, not becoming like them, that is not respecting international conventions”.

The point we are raising today is that the terrorists must, of course, be attacked, but democracy and international conventions must still be respected.

I am therefore calling upon the Prime Minister to withdraw his statement. This is an attack on myself personally, on the members of the Bloc Quebecois, and I would say also against parliament and against logic.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, we have a dispute here with respect to statements that were made during the course of question period. It is perhaps a point of debate and rhetoric, but I do not think it constitutes a question of privilege that would be properly before the House at this time.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in support of the question of privilege raised by the leader of the Bloc Quebecois.

I feel that the Prime Minister's answer in this case by suggesting that members of the opposition of whatever party who are critical of the government's policy are somehow acting in support of the terrorists is a form of parliamentary McCarthyism that is unacceptable in this place and should be censored.

[The Speaker]

The Chair will consider the matter and get back to the House if need be.

I have noted the comments by the hon. member for Laurier--Sainte-Marie, the government House leader and the hon. member for Winnipeg--Transcona. I will take all of them into consideration and will reach a ruling on it later, if necessary.

Points of Order

[Randy White, Canadian Alliance, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, during question period the Prime Minister made a statement that the opposition blocked a motion to congratulate the Queen on Her glorious reign.

I wish the government House leader to acknowledge that it was not the Canadian Alliance that blocked that and that it would not block that. I am prepared to make a motion to the extent that we do indeed support Her glorious reign.

I would also like it understood over there and acknowledged as to where the problem is. If not, we will make it an issue. I ask the government House leader to stand and correct the Prime Minister's statement.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman is correct in saying that in any conversation I have had with him or representatives of his party the Canadian Alliance has been most enthusiastic about acknowledging the anniversary of Her Majesty.

There are perhaps others in the House who have a different view but it is fair to say that it is not the Canadian Alliance. I point out that the question that was asked of the Prime Minister to which he responded in reference to the opposition did not come from the Canadian Alliance but in fact from another party in the House.

[The Speaker]

I trust the matter has been clarified, and question period is over.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the government House leader does not seem to have learned from history. The Prime Minister implies one thing and one party gets up to clarify. The government House leader then leaves open the possibility that perhaps it was the NDP or some other party--

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I have a feeling that all things will become clear in due course.

As I said, I think that everything will become clear in due course. The hon. House leader of the Bloc Quebecois has the floor for a very short comment.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as House leader of the Bloc Quebecois, I am deeply distressed that my colleagues are feeling confused.

In order to avoid any ambiguity, it is the Bloc Quebecois that refused that the motion on the Queen's birthday be moved. We were the ones who did it.

[The Speaker]

As I said, it will all be clear soon enough.

Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32 I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the interim report of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada.

Government Response to Petitions

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to two petitions.

Golden Jubilee

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, today is February 6, 2002. Hon. members will know that this must be a bittersweet day for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada. It was 50 years ago today that she received word of the passing of Her beloved father, thereby making today the 50th anniversary of Her accession to the throne.

The government has given notice of a motion for an appropriate humble address to Her Majesty marking this occasion and we will proceed with that motion in the very near future. At that time I am certain members will want to more fully express their best wishes.

It seems appropriate, however, that the House should take note of this event on the actual day of the anniversary. Her Majesty has travelled widely in Canada throughout Her reign and we happily anticipate another royal tour this autumn.

Her Majesty is the 40th monarch of Her line, going back to William the Conqueror. Only four of Her predecessors reigned longer than she now has. We look forward to many more happy years of Her reign.

[Jason Kenney, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition I thank the government House leader for his remarks and express our regret that we did not have the opportunity to pass in the House today a humble address to Her Majesty. I understand that one has been presented on the order paper and fittingly so.

Fifty years ago today the 25 year old Princess Elizabeth was awoken in a safari lodge in Kenya to learn that Her father, King George VI, had died. She ascended to the throne, Regina Dei gratia, as the 40th monarch since William the Conqueror and as the fifth Sovereign of Canada since Confederation.

Since then she has dedicated herself unswervingly to Her duty as the head of state of over two dozen countries, the head of the Commonwealth, the patron of hundreds or organizations and regiments including many in Canada and as the Queen of Canada.

She visited every part of Her Canadian Dominion addressing Canadians in both of our official languages. She signed into law our newly patriated Constitution Act in 1982.

Her Majesty, to whom each of us in the House has sworn allegiance, opened parliament in 1957 on Her first of 20 official visits to Canada.

As we prepare for Her golden jubilee visit this October, it is my hope that she will be again invited to do so in a concrete demonstration that the crown remains and integral element of parliament, what Eugene Forsey described as “the first principle of Canadian government”.

This institution is solidly anchored in the past. The crown symbolizes the protection of the rights of the most humble citizen by the monarchy, across the kingdom. In exchange, we owe our sincere allegiance to the monarchy. I believe that it was John Farthing who explained this the best. The historian said that “freedom wears a crown”.

Such occasions are rare. The last golden jubilee that we celebrated as Canadians was in 1891, the year that our first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, died, and the 50th year of Queen Victoria's reign.

In an age when Canadians are more concerned about their sovereignty and their role in the world, the monarchy is one of the distinctive Canadian institutions that sets us apart from our American neighbours.

We as members of this place will come and go, depending on the political fashions of the day, but the crown goes on as the ultimate symbol of our order and the continuity in our constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth's 50 years of selfless service have personified our crown with dignity and grace. Long may she reign. God save the Queen. Vive la reine.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we respectfully acknowledge the comments made by the government House leader regarding the Queen, and it is our opinion that members from the other provinces of Canada have the right to feel such respect towards Her Majesty the Queen of England.

However, we in no way recognize the authority she claims to exercise over Canada, and particularly over Quebec, and more importantly over our institutions.

The representatives of the Queen in Canada are the Governor General and the Lieutenants Governor in the provinces, and this institution, for which we have no admiration whatsoever and which we believe is greatly outdated, needs to be subject to an indepth reform as soon as possible.

Our political party sincerely believes that if members from the other provinces, and Liberal members from Quebec, want a monarch who hails from another country to be the head of their country, they are free to do so.

The Bloc Quebecois members elected to the House represent citizens who want a sovereign country that is not led by any foreign monarch, but one that is elected by the people that he or she will lead.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the statement by the hon. government House leader and the indication that there will be time again in the House to speak at greater length in celebration of Her Majesty's 50th anniversary.

At this time I would like to extend, on behalf of the NDP caucus, best wishes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on this day, the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

She has presided over the British Commonwealth with great dignity, enjoys much affection from Canadians and symbolizes for many the merits of a constitutional monarchy in which the head of state, or in Canada's case her representative, is separate and apart from the ongoing political struggles of the day.

May she continue to enjoy good health, and as we pray when we sing God Save the Queen , long may she reign.

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a humbling experience to stand in this storied House on behalf of my colleagues and constituents and offer sincere congratulations to Queen Elizabeth II on the 50th golden anniversary of her reign.

The heavy burden of public service and constitutional duty devolved on the Queen when she was only 25 years old and the mother of two was an awesome and daunting task. For half a century she has, with grace and complete and total integrity, discharged her constitutional obligations to the people of this country and throughout the Commonwealth.

The pledge made by the 21 year old Princess Elizabeth, and later made by her again as Majesty in her coronation oath, was to serve the people however long she may live. What more noble promise can there be than to serve the people and to preserve the rule of law? There is none higher.

In her Internet message this morning, the Queen expressed the hope that this jubilee year would not be nostalgic but rather an occasion on which to look forward with confidence and pride. We will do that.

Today, on the anniversary of the succession, many Canadians of an earlier generation than mine personally remember with gratitude the life and service of the Queen's father, King George VI, who died 50 years ago today. He came to the throne in a time of crisis, led the people through the second war and died much too young. Today we think as well of a widow of 50 years who forged an innovative and dynamic life of public service.

In my lifetime, and for a majority of Canadians, we have known only one person as our sovereign. Queen Elizabeth has always been there. There has been constitutional stability and we have grown up in a peaceable kingdom. Too often we take things for granted or because they are familiar. We fail to notice them.

This is the Queen's Canadian parliament. The laws we pass are the Queen's laws to keep the Queen's peace. Those who sit in the cabinet serve the crown in the name of the people, not as the masters of the people. At the very core of parliament and responsible government are the crown and the concepts of duty and service.

For 50 years Queen Elizabeth has fulfilled her pledge to the people of Canada. She has not been just a fair weather friend. In difficult times, in difficult circumstances, she has been loyal to us. We now have the honour to return that loyalty with gratitude. She has remained faithful to us in her duty and we thank her.

On behalf of the right hon. leader of the PC/DR coalition and my colleagues and constituents, we send to her our personal best wishes. We look forward with pleasure to her visit in this jubilee year and we echo the prayer from the anthem: Long may she reign.

Committees of the House

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eleventh report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

In accordance with Standing Order 108(1)( c ), the committee is pleased to report to the House that it has agreed to hold a hearing on the annual report of the privacy commissioner for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001.