Mr. Speaker, I would like to serve notice that I will be splitting my time.
I have been listening to much of the debate that began much earlier today. The debate has reflected very well on all members an all parties in the House. It shows that the House can do very well with less partisanship from time to time.
First, I want to express on behalf of my constituents of Charleswood St. James--Assiniboia sincere condolences to all the American people in the wake of last week's horrifying events. In particular, I want to extend sympathy to all the families who lost loved ones. That includes American families, Canadian families, British families and other families right around the world.
I want to say in particular to the United States of America and her people that our thoughts and prayers are with them at this extremely difficult time. Even though it is six days since that terrible event happened, many of us are still in shock. We are numbed by the magnitude of that horrific act. It is hard to believe that more than 5,000 people have died and that the huge famous landmarks in downtown Manhattan are no longer a part of reality.
I want to assure the American people that we will stand by them and support them at this difficult time. I am so pleased that our Prime Minister said very much the same thing. In fact he went beyond that in his moving speech last Friday. He indicated that our friendship with the Americans and the United States of America has no limits whatsoever and we will do whatever is necessary to help them in the days, the weeks, the months and yes, even the years ahead because this is going to be a long, long battle. We are not going to be able to get rid of the terrorists. The world will not be able to rid itself of the terrorists for a long time.
The Prime Minister noted that as a member of NATO, Canada along with its partners in NATO invoked article 5 which in effect says that an attack on one member is an attack on all members. By virtue of article 5, the terrorists attacked Canada as well. In fact they attacked civilization. They attacked democracies all around the world.
It is quite understandable in a time such as this that there is a clamour for a sharp response, an immediate response when people have lost their loved ones, people who are near and dear to them. It is understandable that some will seek blood, that they will seek revenge. In fact I caught an interview on CNN on the weekend in which a gentleman said, “Today we mourn, tomorrow we avenge”.
That is something I do not share completely. I certainly share the mourning, but when it comes to revenge, that is a different question. We have to be extremely measured in our response. We have to be disciplined. I can certainly understand people wanting blood and revenge. When someone is hurt, they react. That is a very human response.
As a country and as a people we have to be careful in our response. We have to be prudent. We do not want to make the same mistakes as the terrorists. Two wrongs do not make a right. We all know how violence begets violence. We do not want that. We do not want thousands of civilians caught up in some kind of conflagration where thousands of innocent people die. That is not what we want.
I am very pleased to note that a number of my constituents are advocating restraint.
I would like to share with hon. members excerpts from three e-mails I received. I would like to read short portions of those letters to indicate how these constituents feel.
The first one is from a woman who says she has never written to a politician before. She said:
The Canadian politicians that speak for me need to hear that, though I like most of the world have a difficult time understanding the events of the past week, I want our actions, as individuals and as a country, to help bring about lasting justice for all people, in every country and for all people of every race and religion. Justice is hard to achieve when acts of retaliation and revenge perpetuate the cycle by killing innocent people.
Here is a short letter from a man in my riding. In part he said:
--the Canadian government must work to ensure that calm and considered action is taken that will not jeopardize or threaten the lives of innocent civilians in other countries. Yes, there must be justice. A terrible crime against innocent people was committed. But this is not war.
I have another letter from a gentleman in my riding, who said in part:
We are committed to justice not revenge. Revenge will only continue the cycle of violence. Those who are powerful need to realize that when a finger is pointed out at someone 3 point back at you. A people who cherish freedom ought to know that others cannot be bullied into subservience. I could go on but it is crucial for our country and other NATO allies to help the Americans keep perspective not feed the emotionalizing of the situation.
Those are excerpts from three letters from constituents who I think are providing some sage advice, that is, we have to be very prudent in any response that we carry out as a people and as a country.
As I indicated earlier, I think this will be a long, tough fight. We are dealing with fanatics who are full of hate but clever, who are organized in decentralized cells that are very hard to detect and who of course are well financed.
It is worthwhile noting that warfare, if we want to call this war, has changed a lot over the last many decades. During the American civil war, which was less than 150 years ago, many a battle featured the armies lining up face to face. They had it out with each other. Many of the same elements were contained in the first world war. There were allied troops in trenches on one side and German soldiers in trenches only a few yards away, and they had it out.
War has changed a lot, although not all parts of it. Certainly the killing part has not changed, but the tactics, the strategy, have changed a lot. We have to recognize that. If we are to beat our enemy, if we are to defeat these terrorists, it may not take airplanes and it may not take bombs to get rid of them. It may take something entirely different. I am no expert on it but it could take a superior brand of intelligence to identify the terrorists and to determine the most appropriate response.
I was talking to one of my colleagues earlier today, the hon. member for Mississauga West. I do not know if he mentioned it in his speech but he mentioned to me that perhaps one way we should consider, and I know it has already been considered, is to get at their source of finances. That would cut off the money supply. If they do not have money, it may curtail their activities.
Let me say in closing that I think we have to be prudent. We have to be careful in our response. We have to do everything possible. We have to look at our legislation, help our agencies and do what we can, but we have to make sure that at the end of the day we do not sacrifice our values, that we do not sacrifice our own democracy.
If we cannot assemble in open places in our country, the terrorists win. If we cannot travel freely, the terrorists win. If we always have to be looking over our shoulder, the terrorists win. If I know Canadians well, we will not let terrorists win. In fact, they will not win.
