Senator Harder, yesterday I asked you about your government’s statement to shut down the social media platform Twitter in the lead-up to the upcoming federal election. You refused to answer and simply said that it was preposterous. I note you didn’t say the threat to do so by your government was preposterous but that my question was preposterous, as if I had nothing on which to base it.

I’ll try again. Last week the Minister of Democratic Institutions, Karina Gould, was asked in a scrum what she would do to Twitter if they failed to register online election advertisers. One reporter asked, “What can you do? Can you shut down the signal?” To which the honourable minister responded, “Well, it remains to be seen . . . .”

That’s pretty clear, Senator Harder. Your government would consider joining the ranks of countries like China, Iran and North Korea in shutting down Twitter. Your government claims that diversity is our strength, yet it can’t even tolerate an opinion different from its own.

My question to you is simple: Instead of being offended by the questions I’m asking, why aren’t you more offended by the lengths to which your government will go to shut down opposing views in the country? How far will your government go to shut down opposing views?

Government leader, we have Elections Canada, which is an arm’s-length organization that has an obligation to enforce the law. It’s not up to the government to be sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong. Allow the ministry of justice to do its work, allow Elections Canada to do its work and have the government focus on its own work.