Mr. Chair, the government does not support this amendment. The amendment makes no substantive change and is unnecessary.
The amendment moves proposed section 2.2 of the Civil Marriage Act, which sets out a new national minimum age for marriage, to a new section 2.4 in a separate new proposed clause 4.1 in order that it not come into force until a House of Commons committee, a Senate committee, or a joint House of Commons and Senate committee submits a report on the proper minimum age for contracting a marriage. This approach leaves a lack of uniformity in the law in Canada with regard to the absolute minimum age for marriage. It would leave the minimum age for marriage at 16 in the province of Quebec only; in other provinces and territories, the common law would apply. As mentioned, this would deny legal protection to minors who are Canadian residents not residing in the province of Quebec.
We will not be supporting this amendment.