Mr. Speaker, we heard earlier in the day that the opposition party will be supporting this bill to go to committee, but I think that support is going to be very short lived, considering the track record of the official opposition. It has not been able to support a single piece of legislation we have put forward to combat terrorism. Whether it be the Combating Terrorism Act or the strengthening Canadian citizenship act, the opposition cannot find it in its heart to stand with Canadians across the country and say no to terrorists.
I find that completely disgraceful.
To speak about the incidents that happened here on the Hill, at the National War Memorial, and in Quebec, we have had a number of people come forward and call a spade a spade. In fact, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness in his speech said it is time to call a spade a spade.
The President of France was here yesterday and called it a terrorist act. The U.S. Secretary of State last week called it terrorism. The Commissioner of the RCMP made it very clear that it was a terrorist act. In fact, the Criminal Code defines it as terrorism. It is very clear.
However, the Leader of the Opposition cannot find it in his knowledge to agree that it was an act of terrorism. In fact, he stated:
...I think we are not in the presence of a terrorist act in the sense that we would understand it....
I am having difficulty figuring out what it will take for him to understand it. I would like to hear the comments of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration on that particular issue.