SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 274

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 2, 2024 10:00AM
  • Feb/2/24 11:24:10 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, once again, the French language is getting second-class treatment in this Parliament. Yesterday, the Conservatives and the NDP, supported by one Liberal who lost his way, decided in committee that the commissioners appointed to review miscarriages of justice will not have to be bilingual. Once again, these parties are turning their backs on francophones in Quebec and Canada. Justice is supposed to be bilingual, and Canada is supposed to be bilingual. Will the government ensure that the members of the miscarriage of justice review commission are bilingual?
90 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Feb/2/24 11:24:49 a.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I am the so-called lost Liberal the member is referring to. I was at that committee. I voted the way I did and I am proud I did. I stood up for unilingual French-speaking citizens in the province of Quebec. I stood up for English speakers and minorities across the country in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. The commission is going to be bilingual in nature. It is going to be available for people in both official languages, and that is the most important thing in that bill. I think what was decided yesterday was absolutely right and stands for exactly the principle the member is advancing.
112 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border