2021-05-04: Defending censorship with ad hominems rak
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I will be moving to Montreal this summer and my member of
Parliament will be Steven Guilbeault, the minister spearheading
Canada's new internet censorship bill (bill C-10).
He also happens to be the minister who responds to serious
questions about his bill's constitutionality with ad hominem
attacks. You can watch the exchange during yesterday's question
period here [0]. Here's the Hansard transcript:
Ms. Rachael Harder (Lethbridge, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, it is sad that the minister still does not have
an answer to this question. It has been asked for days now,
and still, he continues to point to big organizations, such
as Google and Facebook, rather than talking about the
protection of individual rights and freedoms, which is the
question at hand.
Bills like Bill C-10 are put through a sniff test, which
means that the justice department goes through them and
decides whether or not they adhere to the Charter of Rights
and Freedoms.
At committee last week, I put forward a motion asking that
there be another review done to this bill because it has
substantially undergone change. Experts have stated that we
need a new evaluation from the justice minister to determine
if Bill C-10 respects the charter.
Does the minister agree?
Hon. Steven Guilbeault (Minister of Canadian Heritage, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I find it incredibly hypocritical that the
member for Lethbridge, who, given the opportunity, would not
hesitate one minute to remove a woman's right to choose, a
right protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
would like us, and Canadians, to believe that all of a
sudden she cares deeply about said charter.
I have rarely seen such hypocrisy before in my life.
I (admittedly very naïvely) expect my member of parliament to
make a best effort attempt to answer questions that are in the
in the interest of Canadians, instead of engaging in personal
attacks. Especially when they involve Canadians' constitutional
rights. Face à son comportement, je suis certain qu'une des
soeurs à mon école lui aurait dit: j'aurais honte.
I look forward to the privilege of voting the Honourable
Minister out of office.
[0]
https://youtu.be/6NI2qE8uJ9o?t=746
[1] 43rd Parliament, 2nd session, Edited Hansard, vol. 150,
no. 093, Monday, May 3, 2021.
https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/house/sitting-93/hansard#T1430
