Industry Minister Paradis asks NDP to endorse Quebec anti-protest law

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper`s Quebec lieutenant, Christian Paradis, challenged opposition New Democrats Tuesday to offer their symbolic support in Parliament to an anti-protest law adopted by Premier Jean Charest to quell social unrest in the province.

``We`ll see now if the NDP is serious about this,'' Paradis said, heading into the daily question period in the House of Commons. ``Does the NDP support the principle of the rule of law?''

Paradis made the comments before introducing a motion asking the House of Commons to recognize ``the duly elected National Assembly of Quebec`s right to pass legislation, such as Bill 78, within areas of jurisdiction and in conformity with both the Canadian and Quebec charters of rights and freedoms.''

NDP leader Thomas Mulcair noted that his party had amended Paradis` motion to add the reference to the charters. But he suggested that the whole exercise was meant as a distraction by stating the obvious about the powers of democratically elected governments in Canada and the checks and balances they face.

``We`re not going to reinvent the Constitution,'' Mulcair said after the motion was introduced. ``I know the Conservatives too well to ever think for a nano-second that they might do anything with good intentions.''

A few NDP MPs have openly supported Quebec students who have been protesting a rise in post-secondary tuition fees for months. At least two New Democrats joined one event staged after the provincial government had adopted its law that placed restrictions on organization and participation in protests, the Globe and Mail reported on Monday.

But officially, the NDP, along with members of government, and the federal Liberals have not directly weighed into the Quebec debate that has resulted in several violent protests since the start of the conflict.

Green party leader Elizabeth May has officially denounced Charest`s anti-protest law as ``undemocratic.''

But the motion by Paradis comes one day after he and other Conservative members criticized the UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, for expressing disappointment over the Quebec legislation.

``We`re going back to the basics that there is a watchdog,'' Paradis said. ``The courts are the guardians of our Constitution. From there, if there are citizens who are unhappy, they should go the courts.''

Original Article
Source: canada.com
Author: Mike De Souza