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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 300

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 16, 2024 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 300 - Apr/16/24
Mr. Martin Champoux (Drummond, BQ)
  • Apr/16/24 2:39:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the English Montreal School Board has decided to challenge Bill 21 before the Supreme Court. That is fine, that is its right. However, for the federal government to become directly involved in the case, against the will of the National Assembly, for it to provide money, our money, and lawyers, that is where we draw the line. The Quebec lieutenant said that Canada is secular, that the government supports secularism, but he keeps telling us that we must defend freedom of religion against Bill 21. When will the Liberals realize that the best way to protect religion is for the state to not have any?
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Context: House Hansard - 300 - Apr/16/24
Mr. Martin Champoux (Drummond, BQ)
  • Apr/16/24 2:40:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there are 32 members from Quebec who support the will of Quebec's National Assembly. By supporting the challenge to Quebec’s Act respecting the laicity of the State, Ottawa is really challenging our model for living in harmony. Quebeckers want the separation of church and state. We have moved on. I am sure this is not easy to understand for members who fight to ensure that the House begins with a prayer every day. However, Quebeckers have chosen secularism. Religion is private and the state is public. I would like a straight answer from the minister. Why is his government opposed to secularism?
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Context: House Hansard - 300 - Apr/16/24
Mr. Martin Champoux (Drummond, BQ)
  • Apr/16/24 2:41:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are in a Parliament that sings God Save the King for the head of the Anglican Church, a Parliament where elected officials pray every day, not at home, which would be entirely within their rights, but here in the House. We have a government that wants to change the date of the election to accommodate Diwali, a religious holiday. Then, it tells us that Canada is in favour of secularism and that secularism is important. Come on. Will the minister admit that he wants to challenge Bill 21 simply because he is against secularism?
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