Richard Martel

[Justice, November 19th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I have five names: Robert M. Dysant, Arthur T. Doyle, Charles LeBlond, Tracey K. DeWare and Marie-Claude Bélanger-Richard.

What these people have in common is that they were all appointed as judges in New Brunswick and they are all friends of the Liberal member for Beauséjour. It pays to be friends with a Liberal MP. They just have to buy him lunch, and they get a job for life.

What does the Minister of Justice consider most important in the selection process? Is it donating to the Liberal Party, or is it knowing the Liberal member for Beauséjour?

[Justice, November 18th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, in May 2019, Democracy Watch gave this very government an F in transparency.

The president of the Canadian Bar Association has asked that changes be made to the judicial selection process to prevent partisan manipulation. The minister's office refuses to comment because it knows that he has significant influence over the process.

Does the government intend to follow the organizations' advice and revise the selection process for judges?

[Justice, November 18th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked questions about the government blindly trusting compromised information.

It seems that the Liberal government is not very concerned about compromised institutions. Today, Democracy Watch announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the government's judicial appointment system, which is politically biased and compromises the impartiality of the courts. The minister refuses to comment.

What does this silence say about this government's transparency?

[Health, November 17th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the forces of the Chinese Communist Party are at work and are threatening the Government of Canada.

By blindly trusting compromised information, the government is putting Canadians' lives at risk. It did not listen to Canadian experts, it cut funding for the Global Public Health Intelligence Network, and it cast doubt on the asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19.

Who does the government answer to, Canadians or the Chinese regime?

[Health, November 17th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the Chinese Communist Party is working relentlessly to expand its economic, military and diplomatic spheres of influence. The extent of its influence came into sharper focus recently as we confronted the global pandemic that originated in China.

The World Health Organization is being influenced by China, because WHO scientists are having a hard time conducting their investigation into the origins of the virus.

Why is the government blindly trusting compromised information?

[Foreign Affairs, November 5th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we know the Prime Minister will be calling the French President today. That is called playing catch-up, like when a team is bringing up the rear. The Liberal Party likes talking about “Team Canada”. Team Canada is bringing up the rear internationally.

Will the Prime Minister explain to the French President why his defence of free speech was so limp, or will he tell him what he really thinks, which is that free speech is not without limits?

[Foreign Affairs, November 5th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, the Prime Minister said, “Canada is back”.

Note that Canada did not get a seat on the Security Council. The Prime Minister does not inspire confidence on the international stage. After showing poor judgment on the issue of freedom of expression, the Prime Minister now has to grovel before the President of France to clean up the mess.

Why does the Prime Minister have to call the President of France, and not the other way around, as we saw with the Premier of Quebec?

[Freedom of Expression, November 5th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, La Presse and Le Figaro both quoted the Prime Minister saying that freedom of expression is not without limits. I am not trying to mislead the House. History shows that, unfortunately, limits to freedom of expression lead down a slippery slope to other things, such as sanctions, control and censorship.

Our democracy is a product of the Enlightenment, and freedom of expression was at the core of this movement. The French, with philosophers like Voltaire, were among the pioneers.

When I hear the Prime Minister say that freedom of expression is not without limits, I cannot help but think of those, all around the world, who fought and risked their lives for this freedom. Lest we forget.

I urge my colleagues and all Canadians to vigorously defend their ideas, in the name of freedom of thought and freedom of expression. A society needs these freedoms if it is to move forward and have meaningful and democratic debates.

[Foreign Affairs, November 4th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to refresh the Prime Minister's memory. On Friday, he said that freedom of expression is not without limits. However, yesterday, he said that he would vigorously defend freedom of speech. He cannot deny that he obviously said two different things. It seems he does not know whether he is coming or going.

Why does the Prime Minister not want to admit that what he said about freedom of expression on Friday is what he really thinks?

[Foreign Affairs, November 4th, 2020]

Freedom of expression is fundamental and non-negotiable for Canadians. The Prime Minister has been all over the map lately. Last Friday, he clearly said what he really thinks, but he later retracted his statement when he saw that neither the French nor Canadians agreed with him. It was a slap in the face that President Macron called Premier Legault and not the Prime Minister.

Why did the Prime Minister not get a call from President Macron?