In the House of Commons - October 17, 2007
ORAL QUESTIONS
Holiday Greetings
Mrs. Susan Kadis (Thornhill, Lib.): Kadis.S@parl.gc.ca
"Mr. Speaker, a number of my constituents were recipients of mysterious Rosh Hashanah greetings from the Prime Minister. It was a mystery because they had no idea they were on such a government mailing list. One constituent, Michelle Kofman, was one of those Canadians. She wants to know two things: how does the Prime Minister know her religious affiliation and how did his office get her personal information?"
Hon. Jason Kenney (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), CPC): Kenney.J@parl.gc.ca
"Mr. Speaker, all members of this House I suspect, certainly all party leaders, send holiday greetings around the time of Christmas to millions of Canadians on publicly available lists. We make no apology for doing the same thing with Canada's Jewish community to celebrate their important high holidays as well.
We believe, unlike the Liberals, in multiculturalism and celebrating all of our cultural communities' holidays and important dates."
Mrs. Susan Kadis (Thornhill, Lib.):
"Mr. Speaker, Ms. Kofman and Canadians deserve a full and complete answer from the government. The Privacy Commissioner has been asked to investigate, one of three investigations involving the Prime Minister and the Conservative government.
Why is the government compiling lists of Canadians according to their religious and ethnic affiliation?"
Hon. Jason Kenney (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), CPC):
"Mr. Speaker, I promise the member opposite that if she sends me a Christmas card, I am not going to launch an investigation.
The fact of the matter is that Canada is a beautiful mosaic made up of people of different cultural and religious backgrounds. This government believes in sharing greetings with Canadians from all of those backgrounds at important times in different cultural and religious communities. We make no apology for doing so."
In the House of Commons - October 18, 2007
ORAL QUESTIONS
Holiday Greetings
Mrs. Susan Kadis (Thornhill, Lib.): Kadis.S@parl.gc.ca
"Mr. Speaker, let us not forget there is a third investigation underway. This one involves the Prime Minister's Office and a breach of privacy, an allegation that should send chills down the spines of all Canadians.
My constituents, Mrs. Faulkner and Mrs. Donin, want an explanation. Both of their names mysteriously appeared on the PMO list to receive a Rosh Hashanah greeting, but neither is Jewish. They want to know how they were identified with a religious affiliation they do not hold and why there is such a list.
Calls to the PMO went unanswered, so today I ask the Prime Minister again if he will explain how his office compiled the lists?"
Hon. Jason Kenney (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), CPC): Kenney.J@parl.gc.ca
"Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to hear that she did not enter into the happiness of the Rosh Hashanah new year, but I can quote from the executive vice-president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, who said, 'I don't think there is anything nefarious here whatsoever' and that most people in the community would appreciate this.
Frank Dimant of B'nai Brith Canada said, 'I really do think there's a very sinister motivation by individuals who are asking for an examination of where these lists came from or how they were accumulated'. What is her sinister motivation?
Before she answers that, I would like her to tell us whether she has ever sent out Rosh Hashanah cards, or other Liberals have, to members of the Jewish community."
Mrs. Susan Kadis (Thornhill, Lib.):
"Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their privacy to be protected, not exploited.
The Prime Minister's Office has dodged calls on questions on this issue from my constituents. I have had to write a letter to the Privacy Commissioner at the request of one of my constituents for an answer, but they want to hear from the Prime Minister. How did their names get placed on the list? The PMO could not have received their names from public lists as they are not constituents of the Jewish faith.
How did the PMO access their private information? Will the Prime Minister explain how the list was compiled?"
Hon. Jason Kenney (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), CPC):
"Mr. Speaker, I understand why the member did not want to answer my question. Perhaps it is because this morning I received an email from a constituent of hers, Mr. Arthur Burke, and I would be happy to table this. It says:
Dear Sir:
I received a Rosh Hashanah card from my MP, [the MP for Thornhill]. I don't know from where she received my address or how she knew my religious affiliation. I would be very appreciative if you might be able to look into this
We know that Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year, but it seems for that member it is the high holiday for hypocrisy."
Hon. Garth Turner (Halton, Lib.): Turner.G@parl.gc.ca
"Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for-"
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
The Speaker:
"Order, please. I know members on both sides seem to disagree on this point, but we have to have some order in the House so we can proceed with the discussion.
The hon. member for Halton has the floor now."
Hon. Garth Turner:
"Mr. Speaker, now that the Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) has admitted that the government used private information to send unsolicited mail to Canadians, will he now apologize and, better still, tell us where that information came from? Are Conservative members of Parliament collecting that from their constituents, yes or no?"
Hon. Jason Kenney (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), CPC):
"Mr. Speaker, that proves once again that those members cannot think on their feet or retool during question period.
The fact is, like all members of Parliament, we have a program to provide holiday greetings. Most MPs perhaps over there only do it at Christmastime, but because we believe in multiculturalism we share holiday greetings on important festivities for all communities based on publicly available lists of information.
Those members should be apologizing for saying one thing and doing another."
Hon. Garth Turner (Halton, Lib.):
"Mr. Speaker, we are here to represent people. We are in our ridings to serve people.
Conservative members of Parliament have a party database in their offices in which is entered the private information of individual Canadians. Now he has just admitted that it is used.
Will the Prime Minister apologize for an unethical invasion of Canadians' privacy?"
Hon. Peter Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, CPC): VanLoan.P@parl.gc.ca
"Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Halton has always said that ethics are very important to him.
He talks today about the importance of representing people, including the people of Halton. That is why he said on February 10, 2006, 'I think anyone who crosses the floor should go back to the people for ratification'. That is one of his ethical standards and I know he wants to follow that ethical standard today."
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5 comments:
Apparently the Liberals really have nothing better to do with their time than launch pointless inquiries in to harmless polite gestures. Well, at least they aren't in government.
In Canada's early years of establishment, people were attracted to the country for various reasons, two of which being new oppurtunities and religious freedom. Religious freedom means that people can practise their religion without fear of persecution. What I don't understand is why people think it is such a huge problem for the government in a democratic, free country to know one's religious affiliation. I think sending greeting cards to Jewish families on the High Holidays is respectful and a nice gesture. Government knowledge of religion should not matter in a country with religious freedom. Those Jews who pose objections to the "high Holiday greeting cards" should direct their efforts to being proud of their Jewish identity, rather than arguing against it.
I think the question here, more so than sending out greeting cards, is how far a government can go in breaching one's privacy. I am one who believes that the government can invade its citizens privacy to ensure national safety. Having a phone call tapped or being randomly checked at an airport is not something that I would take personally or be offended by because I know that a greater good can come of it. Sending greeting cards, on the other hand, has no great purpose and, perhaps, had a negative effect on the government by placing the spotlight on a controversial issue.
I agree with everyone. This is the government that we are talking about. So what if they know your religion? Is that such a bad thing?
As well, to add to jono's point, and as mentioned in the October 22 post, the same woman that started this whole debate sent out her own greeting cards. Proving once again that the LIberal party are hypocrites and truly do not have anything better to do.
Especially seeing as how the TTC has announced a $21 million plan to install 10 000 more cameras on all its various methods of transportation. This too could be said as invading people's privacy, but i don't see the whole of Toronto jumping up and down and making a fuss. I understand there is a difference between the two, but honestly the Liberals are just whining because they didn't get to do it first.
I complete disagree that it isn't a big deal if the government knows your religion.
We are fortunate to live in a tolerant country, where our government is merely using the knowledge that we are Jewish to send us a Rosh Hashanah Greeting.
But what else could this information be used for? Although it is unlikely, what if an anti-semitic power were to be elected? What would that government do with this information? It may seem extremely farfetched, but before the Holocaust many European Jews felt as safe and secure in their homelands as we do now in Canada.
As well, it is extremely disturbing that we have no idea, what measures have been put in place to protect this information from reaching the wrong hands.
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