FROM CANADIAN PRESS
RICHMOND, Que. The area's Bloc Quebecois MP has refused to provide Canadian flags to veterans for Remembrance Day services, says a local official with the Royal Canadian Legion.
John Hill, vice-president of the town's Legion branch, said today he was told providing the flags would be in direct conflict with the Bloc's primary goal of Quebec sovereignty.
"They do represent us in Ottawa and they are in a federal party and I think it's disgusting that they would take that attitude," said Hill, a Second World War veteran in this community about 120 kilometres east of Montreal.
"Whether they separate or whether they don't separate, that's immaterial. When we request something from our federal MPs they should have the decency to at least adhere to it."
Bloc MP Andre Bellavance, who represents the riding of Richmond-Arthabaska in southeastern Quebec, said he has accepted invitations to take part in local Remembrance Day services but doesn't feel comfortable handing out Canadian flags.
"Personally, as a Bloc Quebecois MP, I don't feel the obligation to distribute Canadian flags," Bellavance told the Sherbrooke Record.
He said he provides a toll-free number to the federal Heritage Department if constituents want Canadian flags.
"It's a choice."
But he added he is willing to help if the local Legion is having difficulties getting flags for their services. He said he just does not want to be the person who provides the flags.
"I don't want the Canadian Legion not to have flags for their ceremonies," said Bellavance.
Sherbrooke Bloc MP Serge Cardin and Compton-Stanstead Bloc MP France Bonsant said they have no problem getting Canadian flags for local Legion branches.
Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe said party MPs have been told not to personally distribute flags because Liberals have in the past criticized the Bloc for handing out the flags.
"People will receive them if they want them but we won't open a shop in our office to distribute Canadian flags," he said.
Names of those wanting flags are given to the federal Heritage Department or the Bloc's whip.
"We're not denying them. We're not denying them. We're not denying them."
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said Quebec taxpayers deserve to have access to all the same benefits other Canadians have from their members of Parliament.
"Let's not forget that Bloc members of Parliament, while they may be separatists, represent their constituents in the Canadian Parliament and their salaries are paid by Canadian taxpayers," said the Ottawa-area MP.
