That is exactly my point. I have been for the past three years the Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism. One of the messages that I preach when I am in public is that as Canadians we all come together for our shared values. What are our shared values? It's building upon the cultures of many different societies and groups that come to Canada, as long as those shared values are something that we can build on for what makes us Canadian in the 21st century. Therefore, some of those other practices that are not similar to our culture, really, especially those that cause bodily harm or dysfunction in a society or family, have no place in Canada. That would be the way we look at how we build our Canadian society.
Let me address another question. As has been said, our government will not tolerate cultural traditions in Canada that deprive individuals of their human rights, such as early and forced marriages, honour killing, incest, and polygamy. We believe that subjugating women or young girls to these acts is indeed barbaric.
Do you agree that these acts are indeed barbaric and should be criminalized? Then it comes to the definition of “barbaric”. Is that an appropriate term to use in this case?
Mr. Gora.