Mr. Speaker, the short answer is, absolutely. I believe any Canadian who believes fundamentally in rights and democratic principles would have to be offended by the comments of the newly elected member for Vaughan. The newly elected member said, “Who has reaped the greatest benefits from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? I would argue that if it isn't common criminals, then it must be the Hell's Angels”.
What a fundamental misapprehension of what the Charter of Rights and Freedoms does for Canadians. I will tell members who has reaped the greatest benefits from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Every Canadian citizen in this country has reaped the greatest benefits from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Mr. Fantino also said that “there is often an overreaction about protecting people's privacy in the public domain. Frankly, I do not understand why any person wouldn't want to co-operate fully with the police. Yet, some people seem very concerned with an already overworked Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms”.
I am proud to live in a country where citizens express and enforce their charter rights. I am glad we have a charter that is overworked. That tells me we have an active, vibrant population that knows what its rights are and is not afraid to exercise them. That is what makes Canada a great country.
I am extremely concerned about someone who thinks that protecting people's privacy in the public domain is something that can possible be overstated or overreacted to. With respect, I think Mr. Fantino has a fundamental misunderstanding of the importance of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to this chamber and to Canadian people.