SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 68

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 10, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 68 - May/10/22
Mr. Martin Champoux
  • May/10/22 10:36:48 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, my first point is that we are in a place that represents Canadians and the people. We are in a place where state decisions are made and, in my opinion, there should be a clear separation of church and state. My second point is that I do not feel attacked or concerned at the prospect of hearing prayer. I could turn my colleague's question back to him by asking how his expressing his religion in the House is worth more than my expressing my non-belief or my need to have a different personal reflection. How would this moment of reflection preclude my colleague from saying his prayer in silence? I do not see how this can be called disrespectful or a violation of his conscience rights in a context like the one proposed.
138 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 68 - May/10/22
Mr. Kody Blois (Kings—Hants, Lib.)
  • May/10/22 1:44:51 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech. I would like to ask him two questions. First, I am curious to know whether the Bloc Québécois is seeking to import the debate on Quebec's Bill 21 into the House to discuss secularism. Second, I believe that the current method, namely a prayer followed by a moment of silence, is equally appropriate for both people with religious values and those without. Why is my colleague against the current method?
85 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 68 - May/10/22
Mr. Jean-Denis Garon
  • May/10/22 1:45:42 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I can assure my colleague that if his god has any heart, his god will still hear him if he prays in silence. That being said, the Liberals are judging the way we use our time on our opposition days. Does anyone know what I have in my hands? It is the budget they presented a couple of weeks ago. It is a rag. They ruined a day's worth of budget discussions, and yet they talk to us about the way we use our opposition days—
90 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 68 - May/10/22
Mr. Richard Bragdon (Tobique—Mactaquac, CPC)
  • May/10/22 5:33:23 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, my question is simple: What will it be the next time? Today, we are discussing removing a custom that has taken place within this chamber for over 100 years. It has been here from the time of our founding. What is next? Is it our national anthem because it says “God keep our land”? What is next? Is it the Charter of Rights and Freedom, which talks about the “supremacy of God”? What is next? There has been an absolute rise in secular fundamentalism to the point of excluding people of faith from public discourse. Let us be respectful of one another, and in that time of reflection, those who choose not to participate need not, or they can sit in silence. Those who choose to express their faith through prayer during that moment of silence should be able to do so freely and be embraced.
152 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border