SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 117 - Oct/25/22

Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)

Oct/25/22 10:03:39 a.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to take the floor this morning as we begin proceedings. The petition I am presenting today deals with the ongoing problem of single-use plastics. The petitioners point out that the current regulations that have been put forward are full of loopholes and would allow such things as individual single-use items like plastic forks to be considered durable if they can be used more than once, as opposed to durable products lasting for years. The petitioners ask the government to review the regulations, tighten them so they focus on the dangerous single-use plastics that are now contaminating our oceans and environment, such as plastic cup lids from single-use cups and so on, and follow the leading examples. The petitioners point to countries such as Chile and many within the European Union that present regulations that Canada could build on. The petitioners ask that the government take meaningful steps to fulfill the promise the government has made to eliminate single-use plastic items.

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Context: House Hansard - 117 - Oct/25/22

Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)

Oct/25/22 10:32:29 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Beloeil—Chambly for proposing this topic for debate in the House today. However, what he is suggesting is just half a proposal, merely seeking to abolish our constitutional monarchy. Does he have any alternatives to propose? We currently have a head of state, who is the monarch. We have a head of government, who is the Prime Minister. Does the Bloc Québécois believe that the Prime Minister should be promoted and also serve as head of state? The vast majority of Canadians have no problem with our existing constitutional monarchy. Things are totally different in Europe. In France, the system recognizes an elected president as head of state. In the United States, the head of state and the head of government are the same man, and I say “man” because, unfortunately, this has always been the case. What does the Bloc Québécois propose?

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Context: House Hansard - 117 - Oct/25/22

Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)

Oct/25/22 4:56:06 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is an honour to participate in this debate. My question for my colleague from Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot is almost the same as the one the parliamentary secretary asked. Early in the debate, this morning, I asked the leader of the Bloc Québécois the same question: What alternative is the Bloc proposing? I did not get an answer. I guess the Bloc did not have an alternative in mind when they wrote today's motion. I am surprised. I should mention that the member for Rivière-du-Nord at least went to the effort of responding that the Bloc Québécois would rather have a president. I want to ask my colleague if that is true. Is that what is now advocated by the Bloc Québécois, instead of this morning's position?

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Context: House Hansard - 117 - Oct/25/22

Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)

Oct/25/22 5:24:53 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it really is a pleasure to put a question to the hon. member for Perth—Wellington, who is, as ever, knowledgeable and thoughtful in putting forward his views. I am very grateful to him for stressing that when we take our oath as members of Parliament to His Majesty, we are taking an oath to Canada, not to any one person. In the past, I took my oath to Her Majesty the Queen. I was not making an oath to one individual but to Canada, and that oath is important. I also think it was very helpful to canvass what it would mean if we changed our system of government, which is what this motion proposes. Briefly, I will say that I grew up in the United States and watched what I think is human nature to elevate even elected people to royal status and to venerate not just the elected president but his wife as the first lady and even the whole family and the royal dogs. I note that it has always been to this point the pronoun “his”. Would the hon. member agree that human nature is better served by having a monarchy that is ceremonial rather than venerating average human beings who are elected?

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