Patrick Gagnon

[Immigration Act, February 6th, 1995]

Madam Speaker, I would like to make a comment.

I listened with great interest to the excellent presentation made by the hon. member for Québec. I liked the way she described the public's perception of the crime rate in Canada.

I agree that for some time people have been saying, especially certain opposition members, and even members of the general public, that more and more young people are involved in crime. This is just not true. In fact, according to statistics compiled by the Solicitor General and other departments, there has been no increase in youth crime, contrary to public opinion. Indeed, according to a Maclean Hunter poll, nearly 60 per cent of Canadians thought, and this of course includes Quebecers, that crime was on the increase.

I would also like to say that with respect to immigration, there is a general consensus in this country on the importance of recognizing not only the work done by the department but also by new immigrants to this country. We must not forget that during the eighties, nearly 90,000 immigrants came to Canada each year. As you know, Canada is known as a host country that is generous and tolerant. In fact, more and more people in other countries are interested in becoming citizens of the country with the best reputation in the world.

We now receive nearly 300,000 immigrants annually. Our strength is immigration, attracting people from other countries to come here and settle and become full fledged Canadians and contribute to the economic prosperity of the country.

But to say that the process has become very politicized-I do not think that is part of our culture. I do not think that in this country, we necessarily make political decisions on who will or will not be allowed into the country. We have certain procedures, we have a well established public service and programs to promote immigration by investors. People cannot say Canada is not a host country, is not a country where you can have a good life. If we only admit 300,000 annually, I am convinced-

[Brome-Missisquoi, February 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, next Monday, February 13, the voters in the riding of Brome-Missisquoi will choose their next member of Parliament.

In the information pamphlet that he has had printed and distributed for his campaign, the Bloc candidate for Brome-Missisquoi says, and I quote: "The Bloc Quebecois must keep its status as the official opposition in order to hold on to real power in Ottawa. Right now, there is only one seat between the Bloc Quebecois and the Reform Party. If we lose Brome-Missisquoi, we could lose our power in Ottawa".

By linking his possible defeat to the loss of his party's status as the official opposition in the House of Commons, the Bloc candidate is not presenting the facts accurately. Even if the Liberal Party of Canada wins the two by-elections now under way in Quebec, and I am sure they will, that will in no way change the Bloc's status as the official opposition.

Only by electing the Liberal candidate on February 13 will the voters of Brome-Missisquoi finally acquire real power in Ottawa.

[Department Of Canadian Heritage Act, December 15th, 1994]

I hear terms being used like "token Quebecer" and "opportunist". I hear all kinds of things from the opposition. I am proud to be the member for Bonaventure-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, I have the confidence of my riding and I am working in the best interests of my constituents, and this means being in Quebec, a Quebec that is part of Canada. Is that clear?

[Department Of Canadian Heritage Act, December 15th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, I think it is uncalled for to call someone-I will not repeat the words that were used to describe me.

I am criticized for having the intellectual curiosity to be interested in what is happening elsewhere and for wanting to share this with Quebecers. I have always recognized the existence of the Official Opposition. It hurts them to hear this voice from the Gaspe, this young federalist, because, and you know this as well as I do, we represent the majority of Quebecers.

Look at the results of the last election in Quebec. Scarcely 44 per cent of Quebecers supported the Parti Quebecois. Unfortunately, the opposition, and especially its home base, are not so sure they want to have their referendum as soon as possible. Increasingly, Quebecers are recognizing Canada's role and the generosity of the Canadian federation.

[Department Of Canadian Heritage Act, December 15th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, it is always a pleasure to discuss with the hon. member for Rimouski-Témiscouata. I think she does have a lot of respect for my region, for the Gaspe peninsula, and for the problems, mainly economic, that we have in my constituency of Bonaventure-Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

Unfortunately, I do not agree with her option, which is legitimate in a way-Quebec's separation. But as a federalist, I will tell you that the CBC's achievements she talked about are precisely the result of co-operation among all Canadians, between anglophones over there, anglophones over here and francophones across the way. That is what has made and will continue to make the strength of Canada.

That is why, with the recognition of the CBC's achievements, and the commitment of the federal government to defend, promote and ensure the development of the French fact in Canada, the next century is most promising for Canadian unity.

[Department Of Canadian Heritage Act, December 15th, 1994]

Quebec is part of Canada. No independent country enjoys a reputation such as that of Canada. Unfortunately, we only hear hogwash from the opposition. And that is unfortunate.

I invite opposition members to make a comparison. I am speaking to you as a Quebecer, a Gaspe native, a francophone. I am asking you to take into account the efforts made on this side of the House, to recognize the efforts made by this party, the efforts made by some English-speaking members.

I see the hon. member for Ontario, who is an English-speaking Canadian. I do not always share his views, but here is a young man who went to the trouble of learning French. There are others too. I do not know them all, but several have made the effort. I believe this is the beauty of our country. This is what makes it interesting.

We will overcome each of the obstacles set up by the opposition, starting with the upcoming referendum.

[Department Of Canadian Heritage Act, December 15th, 1994]

René Lévesque. You have it: René Lévesque, who grew up about 30 kilometres from my home town of New Carlisle, in the Gaspe peninsula.

Like René Lévesque, I come from Gaspe but, unfortunately, none of us can pretend to be Gaspesians first and foremost. This is very interesting. I can tell you that: René Lévesque was among the first to recognize the importance of speaking both French and English. He was open to the world.

I must say, however, that it is thanks to Pierre Elliott Trudeau and those who followed in his footsteps that Canada has become the country that we know today.

I will not talk much long longer because I am anxious to hear the slanderous and malicious criticisms of the opposition throughout the afternoon. I challenge the opposition to find a better country than Canada.

[Department Of Canadian Heritage Act, December 15th, 1994]

"Start with liking Quebecers"-Madam Speaker, can you beat that? It bothers them to hear a young person like me identify himself as a Canadian of French origin, a Canadian who went to the trouble of learning the second language, who took the trouble to travel, visit and study with English Canadians. Sometimes it hurts the separatists to hear that. Unfortunately, we live in a changing world and unfortunately the opposition is unable to meet the challenge of Canadian federalism.

I have heard all kinds of speeches from the opposition, on Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, St. Laurent, on real French Canadians, good Canadians who built and implemented programs from which I benefit.

This brings me to an important point on the official languages in Canada. Let us look at the efforts made by Pierre Elliott Trudeau to have the French fact recognized, to be served-yes, maybe not as well as we would like in Bonaventure or Montreal or other places-but I think this recognition of the French fact by the rest of Canada, of the existence of French, and promoting the language-it is an incredible achievement of our Liberal predecessors.

Let us talk about another great Canadian, a great Quebecer-

[Department Of Canadian Heritage Act, December 15th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, it is the hon. member of the opposition who should come to my riding.

I am going to turn to the English language. I have been privileged and I hope I am sharing this with a number of other young Canadians. I have seen here a number of anglophones who have names like McClarty, McPherson, who have names that are of Asian origin, who are now taking the leap toward bilingualism, who are now moving beyond bilingualism because they can now master three and four languages. That is the strength of Canada.

It is a privilege to speak in this forum today in both official languages because bilingualism is not only a tool for our regional and economic development but is also a part of who we are. In doing so we now can pick from the French culture, from the English culture, from the other cultures around the world that have come here to work as one. That is one of the fundamental issues that will be discussed in the upcoming Quebec referendum.

It will be up to the separatists to prove that Canada does not work. I am from the Gaspé peninsula which is 96 per cent French speaking. I attended French schools but I had the opportunity of mingling with English friends. I have had the opportunity of moving on. I have had the opportunity of exchanging with all Canadians from all walks of life. There is not one person in Canada I have met whom I do not like.

I think Canadians are understanding. We are a tolerant society and regrettably the opposition, including some members from the Reform Party, is not aware of the fortitude, of the fact that being a Canadian is more than a privilege, it is something other countries wish they had.

Obviously the opposition will have the opportunity to react, not only following this speech but in the upcoming referendum.

[Department Of Canadian Heritage Act, December 15th, 1994]

Well, my friend, let me tell you something about washrooms. In the Magdalen Islands, there is a small English school for which the province of Quebec is responsible but it refuses to grant the money needed to rebuild this school used by English-speaking children. The school has water and electrical problems and the window panes are broken. It no longer meets the needs of the population but unfortunately the Government of Quebec is waiting for the Government of Canada to foot the bill and build a school for these English-speaking children. That is how some minorities are treated in Quebec.

But enough of that. I invite the members of the opposition to go to Grosse-Île, in the Magdalen Islands, and see for themselves in what condition that small English school is today. I am sure the story would make the front page of Quebec newspapers.

We were talking about a meeting place of ideas. We know that English is spoken by more than 800 million people in the world and that there are more than 20 million who speak it right here Canada. That is where this meeting place of ideas, new found solidarity comes from. That is what we find in Canada. When you have a chance to travel, as I have had the privilege of doing for decades, you can always appreciate the bilingualism, the biculturalism, the openness and tolerance of Canada. This is something we must never forget.

When I see how weak the nationalist philosophy, the separatist philosophy is, I find it sad that they do not realize that it is because of the federal presence that Quebec has been able to find its identity. We never hear the opposition talk about the contribution of the Canadian government to Telefilm Canada, the National Film Board, the CBC or independent productions. We never hear the opposition talk about that. All it does is constantly deny the facts and knock what makes this country what it is.

There is much to be done and I think it is interesting that the learning of the second language, as I have said earlier-in survey after survey, we realize that more than 75 per cent of Canadians are in favour of institutional bilingualism.