"I think you’ll see more uses for the Notwithstanding Clause in the future."
- Conservative MP Randy White in the documentary film Let No One Put Asunder, May 19, 2004.
"Foreign nationals without status should not be under the protection of the Canadian charter."
- Conservative MP Inky Mark, Hansard, February 26, 2001.
"B.C. gets no protection from an immigration department that imports literally thousands of criminals into British Columbia who prey upon law abiding citizens."
- Darrel Stinson, Conservative MP, Hansard, April 27 1998.
"Immigrants are choking welfare systems, contributing to high unemployment, and many cannot read."
- Conservative MP Art Hanger, Canadian Press, February 2, 1994.
"I would think that they [should] have all of the information in front of them. I think [with] any procedure that's a valuable thing for them to have."
- Conservative MP Rob Merrifield, Globe and Mail, June 1, 2004, suggesting that "independent counselling" would be "valuable" for women contemplating abortion because "people who take part in it may only be seeing one side of it."
"The fact is that homosexuals aren’t barred from marrying under Canadian law... Marriage is open to everybody as long as they’re a man and a woman."
- Conservative MP Jason Kenney, Punjabi Editorial Board Interview, January 30, 2005.
"If they say they're personally opposed to abortion but they don't want to impose their opposition on society, ask them if they're personally opposed to child abuse, ask them if they're personally opposed to slavery. "
- Concervative MP Jason Kenney, Canadian Catholic News, May 24, 2004 Edition.
"We should try to keep our mothers in the home and that’s where the whole Reform platform hangs together."
- Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative MP for Yorkton-Melville, in the Vancouver Province, October 11, 1993.
"There are many ways to include aboriginal women in things. In my instance, my wife is aboriginal, so that does lend a little spice at home and there isn’t thin soup on the home front."
- John Duncan, Aboriginal Affairs Committee, June 4, 1996.
"Were it not for the idiocy of the Liberals contemplating the extrapolation of spousal benefits to roommates, it could be argued that parental leave discriminates against infertile couples -- but that may lead to the risks of extending parental leave payments to those who merely go through the motions!"
- Cheryl Gallant, Letter to the Editor, Fredericton Daily Gleaner, October 28, 1999.
"The heck with the courts, eh? You know, one of these days we in this country are going to stand up and say, 'The politicians make the laws and the courts do not.' The courts interpret that law. And if we don't like that interpretation, there's the notwithstanding clause in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which the Liberal government has never invoked and said they will not use. I believe we'll see that with us in the House of Commons because enough is enough of this stuff..."
- Conservative MP Randy White, in a May 19 2004 interview for a documentary on same-sex marriage.
"Hostility in Canada to Christian teachings about the sanctity of the family and life has resulted in persecution here at home... The government has launched a campaign of intimidation to silence churches by dispatching tax collectors to threaten the charitable tax status of denominations who speak out against the Liberal government."
- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) in a flyer she sent to her constituents complaining about "Christianophobia." The reprinted remarks Gallant made in December 2004 in the House of Commons.
"We saw that young American having his head cut off. What's happening, what is happening down there no different."
- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) at a 2004 pro-life rally on Parliament Hill, comparing abortion to the beheading of American Nicolas Berg by insurgents in Iraq
"The Europeans came to this country 300 years ago and opened it up and settled it and because we didn't kill the Indians and have Indian wars, that doesn't mean we didn't conquer these people. If they weren't in fact conquered then why did they allow themselves to be herded into little reserves on the most isolated, desolate, worthless parts of the country."
- Athabasca MP David Chatters on Aboriginal people.
"I do not think anybody really disagrees that climate change is occurring. The impact that humans are having on that is scientifically debatable."
- Conservative Environment Critic Bob Mills on global warming, Hansard, April 24th 2001.
"It's a sincere question. Why do we need [the CBC]? Why should we have it?"
- Jim Abbott, Conservative Party Heritage Critic, National Post, February 5th 2002. Abbott believes the CBC English-language service should be scrapped and some of its newsgathering functions transferred to CBC Newsworld.
"[Government policy] is promoting diversity at the expense of unity and equality. "
- Gurmant Grewal, Conservative Multiculturalism Critic, Vancouver Sun, December 2nd 1997. Grewal had introduced a motion aimed to "prevent the reference to and designation of any Canadian or group of Canadians in a hyphenated form, based on race, religion, colour or place of origin."
"That should be a no-brainer, shouldn't it?"
- Conservative Health Critic James Lunney stating that a 'parrallel' system of private health care services should be available to take pressure off the public system and reduce waiting lists, Vancouver Sun, February 21th 2001.
"Do you notice that in Toronto there has been increased crime from certain groups, like Jamaicans? "
- Calgary Northeast MP Art Hanger during a get-acquainted tour of Toronto's ethnic communities, to a storekeeper about crime, quoted in the Edmonton Journal, March 14th 1994.
"I want the whole world to know that I do not condone homosexuals. I do not condone their activity. I do not like what they do. I think it is wrong. I think it is unnatural and I think it is totally immoral. I will object to it forever whenever they attack the good, traditional Canadian family unit that built the country."
- MP Myron Thompson.
"When you go into the issue of homosexuals and lesbians it's in the interest of society to have the right to discriminate against that group in areas of ... schools is one that comes to mind."
- Conservative Party Natural Resources critic Dave Chatters arguing in favour of discrimination against gays on a radio station in Westlock, Alberta, on April 30th 1996.
"For instance, I'm not opposed to gays, but if you bring one of those suckers into my school and they try to push their crap on my students, I have a problem with that. "
- MP Myron Thompson opposing education promoting understanding of gays in the Belleville Intelligencer, April 29th 1994.
"You can't scalp me because I haven't got much hair on top of my head."
- Saskatchewan Canadian Alliance candidate Brian Fitzpatrick during a native-organized candidates debate, November 2000.
"At first glance to women of pregnancy prone age, this proposal may seem to be one of the best things about Canada. However, even with the current six-month leave, a functioning uterus can be an impediment to getting a job in the first place. Were it not for the idiocy of the Liberals contemplating the extrapolation spousal benefits to roommates, it could be argued that parental leave discriminates against infertile couples -- but that may lead to the risks of extending parental leave payments to those who merely go through the motions!"
- Cheryl Gallant in the Fredericton Daily Gleaner, October 28th 1999, opposing legislation to extend parental leave to one year.
"Unfortunately, the horse racing industry is often penetrated by organized crime."
- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant quoted by Canadian Press, August 29th 2003.
"I'm giddy. I'm excited about being able to have a fundraiser down at a shooting range like that. I think it would be great ... I think it would be fun to get a bunch of city slickers out there and go into an indoor range and plow away at some targets... It's a perfect fit for an Alliance fundraiser. I can't picture NDPs or Liberals doing it. And I think some of them wouldn't even want to pick up a gun. This is great stuff. "
- Conservative MP Rob Anders on holding a fundraising rally at a shooting range, National Post, July 2nd 2003.
"We are on a mission to save Canada... Stockwell Day has proven himself a man who will not recant his beliefs even under the most extreme pressure. "
- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant in the Toronto Star, February 16th 2002.
"The danger in having sexual orientation just listed, that encompasses for example pedophiles. I believe that the caucus as a whole would like to see it repealed."
- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant on CTV News, June 5th 2004, attacking proposed hate propaganda legislation that would protect homosexuals.
"Are we going to go like lambs to the gas chamber as the Chrétien’s Liberals strip away our rights?"
- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant in the National Post, November 21st 2000, comparing the national firearms registry to the Holocaust.
"I have strong concerns that we're building shelters on a grander and grander scale. I don't think there's a person in here who would expect these excesses."
- Conservative Party Homelessness Critic Peter Goldring in the Calgary Herald, March 6th 2002, calling the Calgary Drop-In Centre the 'Cowtown Casa Loma" of Canadian shelters.
"That's my guess, yes, especially where you have alcohol and drugs and mix that with very short-term changing sexual relationships... There's a lot of jealousy... they [homosexuals] are vengeful, and their health isn't very good. [Skinheads bashing gays] is one kind of marginalized group doing its thing against another marginalized sub-group, which essentially has nothing to do with human rights before the law. It's purely one gang going against another gang."
- New Westminster-Coquitlam Conservative MP Paul Forseth opposing legislation to protect gays from hate crimes, March 18th 1995, House of Commons.
"Old age security is welfare for the aged."
- Conservative MP Paul Forseth, Vancouver Sun, October 6th 1993.
"My riding has the largest Iranian population in the country. At least 40% of all the Iranians living there are refugee claimants. Most of them are bogus. "
- North Vancouver Conservative MP Ted White in the House of Commons, March 31 2003.
"I want to assure the House and everyone watching today that if I did say something, and I am not saying I did, it certainly was not meant as a racist slur as the hon. member has accused. "
- Conservative MP Jay Hill, October 28th 1999, apologizing to the House for heckling African-Canadian member of Parliament Gordon Earle with demeaning comments about slavery, including that Earle was "in chains."
"Today, [Paul] Martin says he's against child pornography. But his voting record proves otherwise."
- A Conservative Party press release, entitled "Paul Martin Supports Child Pornography?" June 18th 2004. Martin voted against an opposition motion two years ago to prohibit the creation and use of child pornography; opposition motions are routinely voted down.
"Let's lower the age to ten."
- Conservative MP Myron Thompson, commenting on the age at which he believes one should be tried as an adult, at a Vernon, BC meeting.
"I'm not going to deprive my constituents of money that's out there."
- Conservative MP Bob Mills (Red Deer) referring to his hypocritical efforts to get $64,250 of federal funding for a walkway, stage and fountain, 2000.
"How can anybody when their track record has been completely contrary to a building exercise, driving people apart, driving wedges, have any credibility or be believable that he can bring people together?""
- Conservative MP Peter MacKay reacting to Stockwell Day's proposal to merge the Conservative and Alliance Parties, June 14th, 2001.
"If a community decides this is how you're going to dress and these are the punishments, who are we to say [different]?"
- Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservative MP Phillip Mayfield when asked why he believed that the torture and imprisonment of women for not wearing a veil should not be grounds for granting asylum, The Globe and Mail, March 24, 1995.
"I think that all the Indians should all be sent to Labrador, to all live together in peace and leave us in peace."
- Reform Party candidate Ricardo Lopez, The Montreal Gazette, June 4, 1988. In 2003 the Reform Alliance merged with the Progressive Conservative Party to create the Conservative Party of Canada.
"Mr. Speaker, I was saying I was unfortunate while I was in Florida over Christmas to get kidney stones. I had to go into a hospital in Florida. The service levels were spectacular. It really put to shame what happens in my riding in North Vancouver with socialist medicine. I do not think there is any harm in having some competition."
- Conservative Democratic Reform critic Ted White, Feb. 23, 1998, Hansard.
"Then came the mandarin from Manitoba [Lloyd Axworthy], the whiner from Winnipeg who now lavishes upon himself as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has begged for political pork, dined diplomats and grovelled for government goodies. Who could forget the hyena from Hamilton [Sheila Copps] who shrieked and shrilled her way under the public's skin..."
- Conservative Defence critic Rob Anders, trained to work in dirty tricks by the U.S. Republican Party, in his first ever speech to the House of Commons, Oct. 2, 1997 Hansard.
"Does anyone believe those people [ethnic minorities] would join and run for a party that was racist? That would be pure foolishness."
- Reform Leader Preston Manning, on why being a member of an ethnic minority guaranteed that someone would not join a racist party, speech in Toronto, April 21, 1997.
"I wanted to make a scene about that but I never did. Instead I ran for Parliament and came here with one real good purpose which is to stop the funding for this kind of obscenity. It has no market in Canadian society. We need to stop it. It is no wonder we have all the violence against women and children when we have a publicly funded radio promoting it."
- Conservative Agriculture critic Ken Epp on how the "obscenity" on CBC Radio is causing violence against women and children, Nov. 18 1997, Hansard.
"We had a justice system hanging on the wall."
- Reform MP Jack Ramsay (Crowfoot, Alberta), on the benefits of corporal punishment when he was growing up, Dec. 8, 1997, Hansard.
"Rob is a true reformer and a true conservative. He has been a faithful supporter of mine and I am grateful for his work."
- Stephen Harper endorsing Calgary West Conservative MP Rob Anders, who in 2001 called Nelson Mandela "a Communist and terrorist."
"Not all women can ask their husbands to lend them the money to run a campaign..."
- Louis-Hébert Alliance candidate Léonce Roy on why the Alliance has not attracted more women as candidates, Le Soleil, November 6, 2000.
"I do support the idea of private health care."
- Jason Kenney, Conservative Party critic on Canada-U.S. Relations, October 31st 2000.
"What happens if a boatload [of immigrants] comes over from wherever and decides that they want to to cast ballots?"
- Calgary West Conservative MP Rob Anders expressing opposition to landed immigrants having the right to vote in candidate nomination races, Edmonton Journal, October 2, 2000.
"The Canadian Alliance simply couldn't support the tone and overall direction of a Report that failed to recognize the tremendous gains that manufacturers and user groups of pesticides have been making for years to make human health and safety their top priority. 'Stakeholders - in particular, manufacturers, agriculture producers, and other user groups - have been taking extraordinary measures to promote a safe, transparent, and effective regulatory system in a co-operative way with the PMRA. These efforts have been largely ignored in the Committee's Report."
- Rahim Jaffer, Canadian Alliance MP, defending polluting corporations, Commons Environment Committee, September 16th 2000.
"We would eliminate regional development subsidies... There is a disproportionate concentration of business subsidies in Atlantic Canada. These subsidies are hugely inefficient."
- Conservative MP Jason Kenney, August 19, 2000, quoted in the National Post.
"They don't want to do like their ancestors did and work for a living and go where the jobs are. Probably, [we] won't go over as well there ... The simple reason is that eastern provinces believe in handouts and 'Give me a cheque for doing nothing.'"
- John Mykytyshyn, Canadian Alliance executive member, as quoted in the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, August 14th 2000. Mykytyshyn claims that his comments were taken out of context.
"No merger, [or] joint candidates w[ith] Alliance."
- The first clause of the agreement between Peter MacKay and David Orchard which secured MacKay the PC Party leadership on May 31st, 2003. MacKay reneged on the deal soon afterward.
"You’re being told this is good and normal and that you shouldn’t think that there’s anything wrong with it, which is what’s happening to our young people now in our schools. So they start looking and they start checking and they start experimenting, and this is what I’m talking about . . . an orchestrated recruitment plan. So you back it down to the impressionable and vulnerable and then bring it all the way through their life, and you know, this is quite understandable how this can happen."
- Canadian Alliance MP Larry Spencer speaking about the "well-orchestrated" homosexual conspiracy, Vancouver Sun, November 27, 2003.
"The [homosexual] activists that organized in those days [encouraged] people of their persuasion to enter into educational fields, and to do this with the feeling of a mission, you know, of going out there as pioneers in a -- quote-- human rights area, and I think they were successful as we've seen."
- Canadian Alliance MP Larry Spencer, speaking about the "well-orchestrated" homosexual conspiracy, Vancouver Sun, November 27, 2003.
"When it comes to people who wish to live together, whether they are women or men, why do they have to be out here in the public always debating that they want to call it marriage? If they are going to live together, they can go live together and shut up about it."
- Conservative MP Elsie Wayne tells gays and lesbians to shut up.
"I do believe it was a mistake to have legalized it."
- Canadian Alliance family issues critic Larry Spencer speaking about homosexuality, Vancouver Sun, November 27, 2003. The U.S.-born former Baptist pastor also argued that the gay-rights movement’s recent successes in areas like same-sex marriage stem from a "well-orchestrated" homosexual conspiracy.
"They probably should have used the notwithstanding clause as Ralph Klein has said he will do, but they're not doing that at this time and definitely we had hoped, the majority of the people had hoped, that they would appeal the decision on Ontario, but they haven't done that either."
- Conservative MP Elsie Wayne on gay marriage.
"I don't think that, you know, anybody would argue that if Nelson Mandela was saying, you know, 30 years ago, that you should go around with matches and necklaces and strangle people or burn them out of their homes, that is not terrorism."
- Conservative MP Rob Anders after blocking a resolution to declare former South African president Nelson Mandela an honorary Canadian citizen, June 11, 2001. Anders also implied that South Africa was better off during Apartheid than it is today.
"By calling Nelson Mandela 'a Communist and terrorist,' MP Rob Anders has adopted the language and the justification used for decades by the white supremacist apartheid regime to incarcerate, shoot, torture and murder hundreds of innocent people whose only crime was a longing for peace, social justice and equality. Today, P. W. Botha smiles steadfast from his grave at the resounding support... For shame indeed."
- Letter to the Globe and Mail from Michael Temelini, June 9th, 2001, concerning Conservative MP Rob Anders.
"[Honouring Nelson Mendela is a] total political-correctness poster-boy thing... He was a Communist. He was a terrorist... The Liberals always deprive us unanimous consent on all sorts of provisions. They wouldn't allow us to honour the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen with regard to their wedding anniversary..."
- Conservative MP Rob Anders, explaining why he voted against a resolution to make former South African president Nelson Mendela an honourary Canadian citizen, June 6th, 2001.
"In the 1950s, buggery was a criminal offence. Now it's a requirement to receive benefits from the federal government."
- Yorkton-Melville Conservative MP Garry Breitkreuz commenting on same sex benefits, The Leader-Post, March 3, 2000.