Mr. Chair, of course, I beg to differ with my colleague on a number of things she mentioned, and I'll get to clause 9 in a moment. The statement that the government does not take matters seriously and did not hold wide consultations is false. I stated earlier that the minister had consultations across the country, including discussions with provinces. It's false to say that the only consultation that was done was by this committee. Comments like that certainly serve nothing but to inflame partisan positions.
This clause, Mr. Chair, amends the Criminal Code to introduce two new offences of celebrating, aiding, or participating in a forced marriage ceremony and celebrating, aiding, or participating in a marriage ceremony of a person under the age of 16. These new offences, sections 293.1 and 293.2, parallel the existing offence related to participating in a polygamous marriage ceremony at paragraph 293(1)(b) of the Criminal Code and would have the same maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
These new offences denounce behaviour that actively provides social legitimacy to a harmful practice that creates an unwanted and/or harmful legal bond within which sexual assault and other offences are expected to take place. The offence would not capture attendees at a ceremony unless they engage in some action intended to help the marriage take place. As the courts have made clear, criminal liability cannot be based on passive presence at the scene of a crime.
Obviously, we're very much in support of this clause, and obviously we'll be voting in favour of it.