Canadian Heritage committee  My response is that I think it's a very important thing. I think that religious tolerance in this country is being challenged. The group that we represent is very concerned about it, to the point of doctors being worried that they're not going to be able to care for patients. Rel

Canadian Heritage committee  Of course, it's easy for me to recommend the spending of federal government money, but the only caution I would raise is to let the religious leaders dialogue and let the religious leaders advise you on that, because in my view there's a danger of government coming in and imposin

Canadian Heritage committee  I come from Nova Scotia, which unfortunately has a very long history of racism. I am disturbed to no end when I see things that have happened on a regular basis. I think it's terrible. I think we still have a problem with racism and I am concerned about any experience of violence

Canadian Heritage committee  I believe that there should always be a consideration of people's responsibilities before God, however they see God, and that there should be pan-Canadian legislation that would protect conscience rights so that people could not be forced or coerced to do things against their wil

Canadian Heritage committee  I would want to see legislation that would protect health care workers from being forced to do things against their conscience.

Canadian Heritage committee  I apologize for not being able to respond to you in your first language. I go back to the same thing. I think there's a tremendous need for improved and increased dialogue and for what I would call a deep pluralism, a pluralism that does not shy away from our differences but art

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, I would, but there's one proviso. You can't do it in a way that promotes secularism or do it from a secular perspective. That would be the only proviso I would have, because what's going on here, as I tried to explain in my comments, is that secularism is seen as an objectiv

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, we're trying to influence a culture, and that's never easy. It's not a simple program; it's changing people's hearts. Again, at the risk of nagging you as MPs, I think it has to start at the top.

Canadian Heritage committee  I believe so, yes. Manitoba's already put legislation forward, but I think it has to be.... With the way our politicians conduct themselves across Canada, do they respect religion? That's my question. If I say that my relationship with God will be dramatically impacted if I'm for

Canadian Heritage committee  No, I think the discrimination is across the board—Orthodox Jews, for instance. It's ironic, because 50 years ago Jews weren't allowed in certain professions in Canada. Now we run the risk of driving them out of certain aspects of medical care. Muslim doctors have expressed extre

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. Perhaps it might be best if I could draft something and send it to you. Would that be helpful?

Canadian Heritage committee  As I mentioned, I had the privilege of working with the Nova Scotia government around creating the respectful workplace, so I've done some work around issues of racism and discrimination. I think we have a paradigm within government for dealing with discrimination against other p

Canadian Heritage committee  I think those are all really good ideas, but I think it has to start at the top. I don't want my presentation—

Canadian Heritage committee  —to be perceived as being political, because it's not meant that way. I've seen evidence of this in all the parties. I think Parliament has to come to the point where you recognize that people who are MPs shouldn't have to leave their religion at the door when they sit in Parli

Canadian Heritage committee  That's a great question.