Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2017-05-01 11:00:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)",
        "fr": "M. Kevin Lamoureux (secr\u00e9taire parlementaire de la leader du gouvernement \u00e0 la Chambre des communes, Lib.)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"4853585\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for <a data-HoCid=\"214374\" href=\"/politicians/bardish-chagger/\" title=\"Bardish Chagger\">Waterloo</a>.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853586\" data-originallang=\"en\">I have had the opportunity, like many members of this House, to listen at great length in regard to what is indeed a very serious issue. We all acknowledge the importance of unfettered access to the Parliament building and the parliamentary precinct. We all understand why it is so absolutely critically important that as members, we treat the issue very seriously. I would suggest that all members of this House recognize the importance of this issue. It is one reason we believe the matter needs to be dealt with by the procedure and House affairs committee, or PROC.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853587\" data-originallang=\"en\">We had an incident a while back when members did not have that unfettered access. It would appear that unfettered access was, in fact, denied. I want to be very sensitive to that issue. Members of the procedure and house affairs committee are genuine in wanting to have the issue dealt with. I used to sit on that committee, and I have dealt with this very issue of unfettered access. We have had reports from the procedure and house affair committee in the past regarding the importance of unfettered access. Through this debate, we have had members stand in their places and talk about what is stated on the back of their MP cards, the passionate reasons they want to represent their constituents inside this House, in particular, and why it is so critical that we have unfettered access.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853588\" data-originallang=\"en\">Having said that, I have found that the majority of the discussion or the debate coming across from the other benches seems to have focused not necessarily on that issue as much as on the issue of what has been taking place in PROC and some of the issues related to it. I want to use the same latitude that has been given on these important issues, because the opposition has been tying it in as one and the same, which ultimately has led to the privilege issue we are debating today.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853589\" data-originallang=\"en\">I have been a parliamentarian for well over two decades. I have had the opportunity to participate in House leadership issues virtually from the day I was elected, when then leader Sharon Carstairs appointed me, as my colleague from <a data-HoCid=\"213918\" href=\"/politicians/robert-falcon-ouellette/\" title=\"Robert-Falcon Ouellette\">Winnipeg Centre</a> would be very well aware, because we were both elected to the Manitoba Legislature at the same time, back in 1988, the official opposition party whip. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853590\" data-originallang=\"en\">I understand the importance of the chamber and the proceedings of the chamber. I understand the importance of the opposition and the tools that are available to the opposition. I was in opposition for over 20 of those years as a parliamentarian. I understand the importance of the rules. Unlike many members, I suspect, I am actually very passionate about the rules of this House and Parliament, whether it is here in Ottawa or in Manitoba. Quite often when we talked about or made rule changes in the province of Manitoba, we would look at what was taking place in Ottawa. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853591\" data-originallang=\"en\">I believe that the <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">Prime Minister</a> is genuinely trying to modernize Parliament. I really believe that. There were commitments made in the last federal election by the <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">Prime Minister</a> to do just that. It has been a long time, the last decade plus, since I have heard so much coming from a leader about the need to reform, and there is a need to reform. There are so many things we could be doing to improve this place.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853592\" data-originallang=\"en\">An issue many members have chosen to talk about, and I use it as an example, is the issue of Fridays. I tell whoever wants to hear it that as an MP, and I am not unique, I work seven days a week. I suggest that this applies on both sides of the House. It is only a question of where it is I am actually working, Ottawa or Winnipeg. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853593\" data-originallang=\"en\">Through the discussion paper, we were asking the procedures and House affairs committee to have this issue, among many other issues, discussed and to have some professionals and individuals who have first-hand experience come before the committee to express what they believe.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853594\" data-originallang=\"en\"> I will share with members my thoughts on this issue. If it means readjusting some hours to put in more hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, I am open to that, because I see the benefit. I am not in favour of reducing the number of hours. Friday is only a half-day, after all. We started today at 11 o'clock. I am personally okay with starting a couple of hours earlier on Monday or Tuesday. I am not shy about working. I am sure all members of this House are not shy about working.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853595\" data-originallang=\"en\">Another issue the opposition members tend to want to talk a lot about is the issue of a prime minister's question period. I sat in opposition for many years, and I may not have been in the first or second round of asking questions. I can say that if there was a prime minister's day, where the Prime Minister was answering every question that was posed, then the <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">Prime Minister</a> would be responding to many of the individuals who would likely not have that opportunity, for a wide variety of reasons. The idea of having only one day a week on which the <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">Prime Minister</a> would come in is something that is being talked about on the other side. There is not one Liberal, including the <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">Prime Minister</a> himself, who is saying that this would be the case.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853596\" data-originallang=\"en\">There are many different issues that will come before this chamber over the next number of years. I would suggest that we would be doing all Canadians a service if we recognized that we must modernize our Parliament. We can do better. It saddens me that there is a feeling that there is a conspiracy taking place, when I know that it is not the case. We have a wonderful opportunity to improve this House and to ensure that members are more effective in what they do.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853597\" data-originallang=\"en\">I would challenge all members of the House, on both sides of the chamber, to understand and appreciate the significance of modernizing Canada's Parliament. The <a data-HoCid=\"224669\" href=\"/politicians/bardish-chagger/\" title=\"Bardish Chagger\">government House leader</a> has gone out of her way to engage with individuals, whether through PROC or in informal discussions with members. She has been open to anyone who has wanted to talk about it. She understands how important it is that we move forward on this file, as do, I believe, most members of this chamber and the cabinet. If we are successful in making these changes, it will modernize this Parliament and will be of great service to the constituents we represent.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853598\" data-originallang=\"en\">We like to say, and as members know, I speak quite often in this House, that we believe in representing our constituents in Ottawa and that we are maximizing our time and effort and are doing good. We can do so much more if we are prepared to recognize what other legislatures across this country have done, which is modernize. Other countries in Europe have done so. We do not have to drag our feet. I have been involved first-hand in trying to change the Standing Orders in Ottawa. I sat on PROC. We can do some minor tweaking here and there with a comma or a period, but we need to modernize. My challenge to all members of this House is to let us get down to business. All Canadians will benefit if we can get this right.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"4853585\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, je partagerai mon temps de parole avec la d\u00e9put\u00e9e de <a data-HoCid=\"214374\" href=\"/politicians/bardish-chagger/\" title=\"Bardish Chagger\">Waterloo</a>.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853586\" data-originallang=\"en\">Comme un grand nombre de mes coll\u00e8gues d\u00e9put\u00e9s, j'ai eu l'occasion d'entendre parler abondamment d'une question qui est effectivement fort importante. Personne ne nie l'importance d'un acc\u00e8s sans entrave \u00e0 l'\u00e9difice du Parlement et \u00e0 la Cit\u00e9 parlementaire. Nous comprenons tous pourquoi il est absolument crucial que nous, les d\u00e9put\u00e9s, traitions la question avec le plus grand s\u00e9rieux. Je pense que tous les d\u00e9put\u00e9s reconnaissent l'importance de cette question. C'est l'une des raisons pour lesquelles nous estimons que son \u00e9tude doit \u00eatre confi\u00e9e au comit\u00e9 de la proc\u00e9dure et des affaires de la Chambre.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853587\" data-originallang=\"en\">R\u00e9cemment, certains d\u00e9put\u00e9s n'ont pu jouir de cet acc\u00e8s sans entrave. En fait, il appert qu'on les a emp\u00each\u00e9s de passer. Je suis tr\u00e8s sensible \u00e0 ce probl\u00e8me. Les membres du comit\u00e9 de la proc\u00e9dure et des affaires de la Chambre souhaitent sinc\u00e8rement aller au fond de la question. J'ai moi-m\u00eame si\u00e9g\u00e9 \u00e0 ce comit\u00e9 et j'ai eu l'occasion de me pencher sur l'importance d'un acc\u00e8s libre et sans entrave \u00e0 la Colline du Parlement. Dans le pass\u00e9, le comit\u00e9 de la proc\u00e9dure et des affaires de la Chambre a soulign\u00e9 dans plusieurs de ses rapports \u00e0 quel point il est important que les parlementaires aient un acc\u00e8s sans entrave. Au cours du pr\u00e9sent d\u00e9bat, des d\u00e9put\u00e9s ont entre autres fait mention de ce qui figure au dos de leur carte d'identit\u00e9 et ils ont expliqu\u00e9 avec conviction les raisons pour lesquelles ils repr\u00e9sentent les gens de leur circonscription, notamment dans cette enceinte, et pourquoi il est tellement important qu'ils jouissent d'un acc\u00e8s sans entrave au Parlement.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853588\" data-originallang=\"en\">Cela dit, j'ai constat\u00e9 que la plus grande partie des arguments exprim\u00e9s par les d\u00e9put\u00e9s d'en face portaient davantage sur ce qui se passait au comit\u00e9 de la proc\u00e9dure et des affaires de la Chambre et sur certaines questions connexes que sur l'acc\u00e8s libre et sans entrave au Parlement. Je tiens \u00e0 aborder la question avec autant de latitude qu'on en a accord\u00e9e \u00e0 ces enjeux importants parce que l'opposition n'a fait aucune distinction entre les divers \u00e9l\u00e9ments soulev\u00e9s, ce qui a donn\u00e9 lieu \u00e0 la question de privil\u00e8ge dont nous d\u00e9battons aujourd'hui. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853589\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je suis parlementaire depuis plus de 20 ans. J'ai eu l'occasion de participer \u00e0 des enjeux touchant les leaders parlementaires pratiquement depuis le jour de mon \u00e9lection, lorsque la chef Sharon Carstairs m'a nomm\u00e9 whip de l'opposition officielle. Mon coll\u00e8gue, le d\u00e9put\u00e9 de <a data-HoCid=\"213918\" href=\"/politicians/robert-falcon-ouellette/\" title=\"Robert-Falcon Ouellette\">Winnipeg-Centre</a>, s'en souvient s\u00fbrement tr\u00e8s bien, puisque nous avons tous deux \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9lus \u00e0 l'Assembl\u00e9e l\u00e9gislative du Manitoba au m\u00eame moment, en 1988.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853590\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je suis conscient de l'importance de la Chambre et de ses travaux. Je suis aussi conscient de l'importance de l'opposition et des outils mis \u00e0 sa disposition. En tant que parlementaire, j'ai fait partie de l'opposition pendant plus de 20 ans. Je suis conscient de l'importance des r\u00e8gles. Je m'int\u00e9resse vivement aux r\u00e8gles qui r\u00e9gissent la Chambre et le Parlement, ici, \u00e0 Ottawa, ainsi que celles qui s'appliquent \u00e0 l'Assembl\u00e9e l\u00e9gislative du Manitoba, ce qui n'est probablement pas le cas de bien des d\u00e9put\u00e9s. Lorsqu'il a \u00e9t\u00e9 question d'apporter des changements aux r\u00e8gles parlementaires du Manitoba, on a tr\u00e8s souvent examin\u00e9 ce qui se faisait \u00e0 Ottawa.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853591\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je crois que le <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">premier ministre</a> tente sinc\u00e8rement de moderniser le Parlement. Je le crois vraiment. Le <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">premier ministre</a> a pris des engagements en ce sens au cours de la derni\u00e8re campagne \u00e9lectorale. Il y a bien plus de 10 ans que je n'ai pas entendu un chef parler autant de la n\u00e9cessit\u00e9 de r\u00e9former le Parlement. En effet, il est n\u00e9cessaire de proc\u00e9der \u00e0 une r\u00e9forme. Il y a tant de choses que nous pourrions faire pour am\u00e9liorer cet endroit.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853592\" data-originallang=\"en\">\u00c0 titre d'exemple, de nombreux d\u00e9put\u00e9s ont choisi de parler des s\u00e9ances du vendredi. Je dis \u00e0 qui veut bien m'entendre que, en tant que d\u00e9put\u00e9 \u2014 et je ne suis pas un cas unique \u2014, je travaille sept jours par semaine. Je pense que c'est le cas pour les d\u00e9put\u00e9s des deux c\u00f4t\u00e9s de la Chambre. La seule question qui se pose, c'est dans quelle ville je travaille: Ottawa ou Winnipeg.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853593\" data-originallang=\"en\">Par l'entremise du document de travail, nous demandions au comit\u00e9 de la proc\u00e9dure et des affaires de la Chambre d'int\u00e9grer ce sujet aux nombreux autres qu'il \u00e9tudie et d'interroger des professionnels et des sp\u00e9cialistes en ayant une exp\u00e9rience directe avant de se faire une id\u00e9e.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853594\" data-originallang=\"en\">Voici ce que j'en pense. Je suis tout \u00e0 fait ouvert \u00e0 l'id\u00e9e de prolonger les s\u00e9ances du lundi, du mardi, du mercredi ou du jeudi de quelques heures, puisque l'avantage qu'on en retirerait est \u00e9vident. Je suis contre l'id\u00e9e qu'on r\u00e9duise le nombre d'heures de s\u00e9ance. La s\u00e9ance du vendredi est d\u00e9j\u00e0 amput\u00e9e de moiti\u00e9 apr\u00e8s tout. Aujourd'hui, nous avons commenc\u00e9 \u00e0 11 heures. Personnellement, je n'aurais aucun probl\u00e8me \u00e0 commencer quelques heures plus t\u00f4t le lundi ou le mardi. Je ne rechigne pas \u00e0 l'ouvrage, et je suis s\u00fbr qu'on pourrait en dire autant de l'ensemble de mes coll\u00e8gues.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853595\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les d\u00e9put\u00e9s de l'opposition semblent accrocher beaucoup aussi sur la p\u00e9riode des questions r\u00e9serv\u00e9e au premier ministre. J'ai si\u00e9g\u00e9 sur les banquettes de l'opposition pendant de nombreuses ann\u00e9es, et je ne faisais pas toujours partie de la premi\u00e8re ou de la deuxi\u00e8me s\u00e9rie de questions. Alors si on faisait en sorte qu'une journ\u00e9e donn\u00e9e, le <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">premier ministre</a> r\u00e9ponde \u00e0 toutes les questions sans exception, alors il r\u00e9pondrait aussi aux d\u00e9put\u00e9s qui, pour toutes sortes de raisons, ont rarement l'occasion de s'adresser \u00e0 lui. Les d\u00e9put\u00e9s d'en face disent que le <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">premier ministre</a> pourrait alors d\u00e9cider de se pr\u00e9senter seulement une fois par semaine \u00e0 la Chambre. Pourtant, pas un seul lib\u00e9ral, <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">premier ministre</a> compris, n'a jamais laiss\u00e9 entendre une telle chose.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853596\" data-originallang=\"en\">Dans les ann\u00e9es qui viennent, la Chambre sera appel\u00e9e \u00e0 se pencher sur une foule de sujets. \u00c0 mon humble avis, nous rendrions un fier service aux Canadiens si nous prenions conscience du fait qu'il est temps de moderniser le Parlement. Nous pouvons am\u00e9liorer nos fa\u00e7ons de faire. Je suis pein\u00e9 de constater que certains y voient une conspiration, parce que c'est loin d'\u00eatre le cas. Nous devrions saisir l'occasion r\u00eav\u00e9e qui s'offre \u00e0 nous d'am\u00e9liorer les travaux parlementaires et de permettre aux d\u00e9put\u00e9s de faire leur travail plus efficacement.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853597\" data-originallang=\"en\">J'invite tous les d\u00e9put\u00e9s, de part et d'autre de la Chambre, \u00e0 comprendre et \u00e0 reconna\u00eetre l'importance de moderniser le Parlement du Canada. La <a data-HoCid=\"224669\" href=\"/politicians/bardish-chagger/\" title=\"Bardish Chagger\">leader du gouvernement \u00e0 la Chambre des communes</a> fait des pieds et des mains pour consulter les gens, que ce soit par l'entremise du comit\u00e9 de la proc\u00e9dure ou au moyen de discussions informelles avec les d\u00e9put\u00e9s. Elle est ouverte \u00e0 en discuter avec tous ceux qui en manifestent l'int\u00e9r\u00eat. Comme la plupart des d\u00e9put\u00e9s je crois, ainsi que le Cabinet, elle comprend \u00e0 quel point il est important que nous fassions progresser ce dossier. Si nous r\u00e9ussissons \u00e0 apporter ces modifications, cela modernisera le Parlement, pour le plus grand bien des citoyens que nous repr\u00e9sentons.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4853598\" data-originallang=\"en\">Comme le savent les d\u00e9put\u00e9s, je m'exprime assez souvent \u00e0 la Chambre. Nous croyons en la repr\u00e9sentation des citoyens de notre circonscription \u00e0 Ottawa et en l'optimisation de notre temps et de nos efforts. Or, nous pourrions faire tellement plus si nous reconnaissions ce que font d'autres assembl\u00e9es l\u00e9gislatives au pays, c'est-\u00e0-dire se moderniser. D'autres pays en Europe l'ont fait. Il est inutile de se tra\u00eener les pieds. Je participe de premi\u00e8re main aux efforts en vue de modifier le R\u00e8glement \u00e0 Ottawa. J'ai si\u00e9g\u00e9 au comit\u00e9 de la proc\u00e9dure. Les modifications de forme, pour ajouter un point ou une virgule, c'est bien beau, mais nous devons moderniser. J'invite les d\u00e9put\u00e9s \u00e0 se retrousser les manches. Il en va de l'int\u00e9r\u00eat de l'ensemble des Canadiens.</p>"
    },
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    "document_url": "/debates/2017/5/1/",
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