CONSERVATIVES
IN THE SENATE OBSTRUCT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS:NDP
OTTAWA
– New Democrats Official Languages Critic, Yvon Godin (Acadie--Bathurst),
is outraged by the delaying tactics that Conservative Senators are using
to obstruct, for partisan purposes, the normal stages that Bill C‑232
should be following in the Senate. This compromises the democratic
process and prolongs existing injustices.
“On
March 31, the Bill was passed by a majority of the elected members of
Parliament,” Mr Godin said. “It went to the Senate on April 13.
Since then 224 days have gone by, but it hasn’t been studied or
even scheduled for study. And yet Stephen Harper himself said in
2008, ‘We don’t believe an unelected body should in any way be
blocking an elected body.’ ”
In
a democratic state, no one is above the law and all citizens are equal
before the law. “This is not currently the case in our Supreme
Court,” Mr Godin said. “Public office holders shouldn’t
lose sight of their responsibilities in this regard. By their
obstruction, these senators are writing off their duty to protect the
rights and interests of Canadians from all regions, and particularly of
minority groups.”
Godin
explained that C‑232 was designed in a spirit of respect, to reduce
linguistic discrimination and minimize negative consequences for the
people involved. “I have a hard time seeing how you can be opposed
to these principles,” he said. “I call upon the members of the
Senate to send Bill C‑232 to committee for consideration and
upon Canadians to put pressure on the senators so that the Bill can
finally move forward and every Canadian receives fairer treatment in the
Supreme Court.”
Bill
C-232 introduces a new requirement for judges appointed to the Supreme
Court: understanding English and French without the assistance of an
interpreter.
