Discussion · Government Orders
Dan Albas Conservative
“This bill affects workers' rights, which are protected by the Charter. By law, the Minister of Justice must give us a report on how this bill affects Charter rights, but we have not seen it yet. I want to know if the member agrees that the government must give us this report before the committee studies the bill.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know this is an issue that the member cares deeply about, and so should we all, because we are talking about workers’ rights. Last I checked, workers’ rights fall under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in section 2(d). Another section that is particularly relevant to this conversation tonight is section 4.2 of the Department of Justice Act, which says that the Minister of Justice is legally required to table a charter statement for every single government bill. Liberals like to say they are the party of the charter. So many Liberal members have said they are all about workers’ rights, yet the House and the special legislative committee that is going to be set up to examine Bill C-39 have not yet seen this. Does the member believe that the government has the obligation to give the people that charter statement before we start deliberating this at committee, yes or no?”
Mr. Speaker, I know this is an issue that the member cares deeply about, and so should we all, because we are talking about workers’ rights. Last I checked, workers’ rights fall under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in section 2(d). Another section that is particularly relevant to this conversation tonight is section 4.2 of the Department of Justice Act, which says that the Minister of Justice is legally required to table a charter statement for every single government bill. Liberals like to say they are the party of the charter. So many Liberal members have said they are all about workers’ rights, yet the House and the special legislative committee that is going to be set up to examine Bill C-39 have not yet seen this. Does the member believe that the government has the obligation to give the people that charter statement before we start deliberating this at committee, yes or no?