Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I don't want to prolong the debate on this. I have heard from numerous stakeholders, I guess I'll call them, who are interested in this bill, since Monday. I think it's safe to say that somewhere around 90 letters have been directed to the committee. There are three themes in most of those letters. One of these is, of course, that this is recommendation number 6 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Most organizations around this table and at the national level are committed to advancing truth and reconciliation and we are in danger in this debate of substituting our opinions about the effect of section 43 for those clearly stated opinions and understanding of the section that come from indigenous people. I think that's a danger here, and not passing this bill does not advance reconciliation.
The second thing is the Conservative amendment we're speaking to now actually says use of force can be used to educate and correct children. We know all the research on child psychology shows this is not an effective way of dealing with kids, and in fact what use of force with children does is teach them that, when frustration occurs, the proper response is violence or force. When Mr. Moore talks about the great trends in society, I would argue this section actually contributes to the increasing violence we see, rather than solving it.
The third thing they clearly say in most of these letters is children have rights and in Canadian law, especially Canadian family law, parents have a responsibility to support and affirm their kids, and use of force against children is not a way of supporting and affirming kids. It remains peculiar to me that the only debate we have in our society about use of force is whether we can use force against kids. We're not debating this about use of force against anybody else to correct or educate them. It's only children. That seems peculiar to me, and, frankly, it seems offensive.
While I understand some of the concerns the Conservatives have raised, I believe it's incorrect to say teachers opposed repealing. They said very clearly they supported repeal. They had concerns, and the government has agreed to address those concerns. That's how we got to where we are today.
I'm hopeful, in the spirit of advancing reconciliation, we can finish our work on this bill today and we can pass this bill and move onto other important things, which other members have mentioned this committee needs to deal with. But there is a broad national call for action to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action number 6.