Mr. Speaker, in her remarks the Minister of Justice referred to the Reform motion as being wrong and a precipitous action, yet 75 of her colleagues signed a letter to the Prime Minister asking for the very same thing that this motion is asking for today.
I will quote from that letter. It reads “We ask that the government not wait for the appeal of the B.C. decision to be heard, but immediately act in the defence of Canada's children”. The letter to the Prime Minister goes on to ask that the use of the notwithstanding clause be considered.
The former solicitor general, who is in the House, today signed this letter. A number of colleagues opposite, members of the Liberal caucus, signed this letter. Yet the Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister are now overriding the wishes not only of the majority of Canadians and the unified opposition on this side of the House, but the majority of the members of the Liberal caucus who support this motion and who are being forced not to support the motion before the House today.
The former solicitor general is nodding his head. How can these members reconcile having asked for a specific course of action just a few short days ago and putting their signature to this request in a letter to the Prime Minister and then a few days later parking their principles at the door and acting like obedient sheep? Whose interests are they serving? Are they serving the interests of their constituents? Are they serving the public interest? Or are they afraid to offend some unelected people in the Prime Minister's office?