Non mais sans farce, une lettre de lecteur parut cette semaine dans le Telegraph Journal de Saint-Jean au Nouveau-Brunswick qui m'a beaucoup touché.
MPs, be guided by Constitution
MP Dominic LeBlanc hits the nail on the head when he defines his responsibilities as a member of Parliament: "I've never thought of myself as a Catholic politician. I've thought of myself as an elected representative of 80, 000 people in southeastern New Brunswick" ("Liberal MP Shoots Back at Catholic Church," Sept. 9).
What guide should MPs use when representing their constituents in Ottawa? My own opinion is that I would want my MP to follow the Constitution of Canada, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I would not want my MP using personal spiritual beliefs and practices as their primary guide - even if I happened to share these beliefs and practices - because doing so has the effect of imposing these beliefs and practices on others.
I work in income tax preparation. When I review a tax return, I am required to use the Income Tax Act as a guide. If a registered charity issues a valid receipt for a donation, I am required to allow it, even if I personally disagree with that charity's goals. If a client tries to deduct donations to a group that isn't a registered charity, I am required not to allow it - even if the donations are to a group that I myself support. My personal beliefs are irrelevant to the responsibilities of my job.
On the Hill, unlike in my job, there are no official guidelines outlining how MPs should make their decisions.
However, I would wish that more MPs would follow the lead of LeBlanc and others who recognize that they have been sent to Ottawa as representatives of the Canadian people, not of any one religious leader.
SARAHROSE WERNER
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