Thank you.
Thank you again for being here. Throughout my years on the force within the RCMP I spent a lot of time in remote communities. I was surprised at the time when I was doing the investigation to find out that there was no age...in Canada. I found a number of cases where we had complaints levied of young people getting involved in a marriage at the age sometimes of 14 and 15.
I'll go back. I believe it's more of a cultural practice. I'm talking about very remote and isolated communities within Canada where they really haven't progressed at the rate that the rest of us have. They're very happy with the very remote lifestyle that they live, living off the land. Their grandparents probably got married at the age of 14 and 15, and maybe their parents did, and maybe they find that's acceptable. I think that as the youth of today in Canada and across this country have more access to the computer Internet system, we definitely need an age bracket put in the act.
I wonder if I could ask Joanne if she would just clarify the real meaning behind the change in the Civil Marriage Act that will come because of Bill S-7, and the requirement for that age factor to be in there?