In that case, Mr. Chair, I would like to say I find it heartwarming that a member of the Conservative Party would invoke the charter. I congratulate the Conservative Party on that commitment to the charter.
I would also make the point that we do not believe that our actions have in any way violated the charter. Section 15 of the charter prohibits discrimination based on specific characteristics, such as race, or national or ethnic origin, that are markers of vulnerability to prejudice or disadvantage. When the government introduces a new measure that is beneficial to a particular group, this distinction does not necessarily amount to discrimination within the meaning of section 15. In addition subsection 15(2) of the charter allows the government to undertake or introduce ameliorative programs for disadvantaged groups.
In other words distinctions in treatment do not amount to discrimination. While I congratulate the Conservative Party for its new-found commitment to the charter, I would argue that in this particular case the actions of the government do not constitute a violation of the charter.