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Mr. Gilles Duceppe (Laurier-Sainte-Marie,
BQ): Mr. Speaker, yesterday
we had an illustration of the old methods of the "new"
government. A $13 billion surplus is going toward the
debt, without debate. A billion dollars in cuts will
be made to various programs, without debate. In order
to save $5.6 million, the government cut the Court Challenges
Program of Canada.
Does the Prime Minister realize that
this program allowed Franco-Ontarians to challenge in
court the decision to close the Montfort hospital? Does
he also realize that this very program allows Acadian
communities to challenge the closure of their schools
and that they will no longer be able to do so in future?
Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime
Minister, CPC): Mr. Speaker, this government intends
to behave in a constitutional manner. We do not intend
to adopt unconstitutional legislation. We intend to
respect the Constitution, including the division of
power between the federal government and the provinces.
We do not intend to pay Liberal lawyers to challenge
unconstitutional laws. Nonetheless, the decisions we
announced yesterday were made according to our budget,
which the Bloc Québécois supported.
Mr. Gilles Duceppe (Laurier-Sainte-Marie,
BQ): Mr. Speaker, the budget was also supported
by the two other parties, who were afraid of triggering
an election. That said, the Court Challenges Program
of Canada also served the gay and lesbian community
to challenge certain measures that infringed upon their
rights.
Does the Prime Minister realize that
through his ideological persistence he is in the process
of considerably reducing access to justice to an entire
sector of the population that does not have the means
to assume the costs of such challenges? Does this government
think justice is reserved for the very rich?
Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime
Minister, CPC): Mr. Speaker, again, this government
is not acting in an unconstitutional manner. We do not
intend to pay lawyers; we intend to direct the funds
in the interest of the taxpayers.
The leader of the Bloc is acting like a defender of
francophone minorities in this country. Well, they want
a strong Quebec in a united Canada.
Mr. Pablo Rodriguez (Honoré-Mercier,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, yesterday, without valid reason
and without consulting the communities affected, the
far-right government did away with the Canada court
challenges program. This program has made it possible
over the years for francophones all across Canada to
get schools and services in their language. They succeeded
in having their rights respected. For example, without
this program, the Montfort hospital would have closed
by now. How can the government turn the clock back 30
years, brushing the Official Languages Act aside and
slashing minority rights in our country. It is shameful.
Hon. John Baird (President of the
Treasury Board, CPC): Mr. Speaker, it is important
that every taxpayer dollar is spent effectively, responsibly
and accountably. We believe it is inappropriate that
government pass legislation that is unconstitutional,
which is why we are making the choice not to do that.
Mr. Pablo Rodriguez (Honoré-Mercier,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, in other words, they do not
give a damn about minorities. Last November, the ultra-Conservatives
voted in favour of Bill S-3. It enabled communities
to go to the courts if the government failed to meet
its obligations.
Yesterday, however, in doing away with
the court challenges program, the Conservative extremists
deprived communities of the means to defend themselves
and have their rights upheld. The Conservatives are
taking away with one hand what they give with the other.
Why did they cut this program?
Is it because they think they are above
the law or is it just because they simply do not give
a damn about the various communities?
Hon. John Baird (President of the
Treasury Board, CPC): Mr. Speaker, at the end of
the day we think it is important to have laws that are
constitutional. Instead of giving grants out to Liberal
Party lawyers, we think politicians should accept their
responsibility and deal with any issues that are before
Parliament to ensure they are constitutional. We have
to say that things like health care, education and ensuring
our seniors feel safe in their communities are also
priorities and they did not receive enough attention
from the former Liberal government.
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