Thank you, Madam Chair.
We've been trying for I don't know how many hours to debate Bill C‑270. It's been going on for a few days now. This is an important bill.
I listen to my Conservative colleagues, for whom I have a lot of respect, and my Liberal colleagues, for whom I also have a lot of respect, and I'm stunned. It's mind-boggling. Both sides say there are victims, and I agree. Mr. Brock has just come back to the poignant testimonies of young people who are victims of pornography. We're talking here about people under 18 appearing in photos or videos circulating on the net. We, the parliamentarians elected by the general public, could solve the problem. We agree on this and we know how to solve this problem. Mr. Viersen has tabled a bill. Each of us might want to propose certain amendments to it, when the time comes, but we all agree that this problem needs to be resolved.
I don't know how to describe our attitude. I say “our” attitude as a committee, because that includes me. I don't want to blame anyone, but it just doesn't make sense. The only reason for dithering and filibustering on this bill is that Mr. Viersen is against abortion. Everyone knows this, both in Parliament and across the country. Mr. Viersen makes no secret of it. He has given press conferences on the subject. Is he right or wrong? I have my opinion on that, but I don't think it's relevant to this bill.
On the one hand, the Conservatives don't want Mr. Viersen to testify, because they suspect the Liberals will ask him about abortion. So they are systematically obstructing him. They say he won't be heard and that another witness should be called. On the other hand, since the Liberals want to boost their election campaign by saying that Mr. Viersen is anti-abortion, they insist that he testify. So we're at war over whether or not Mr. Viersen will come to support his bill.
However, this is immaterial to us. If the victims whose testimonies Mr. Brock has been recounting were sitting here, they'd be discouraged to see us acting this way. They'd be reminding us how messed up they are and how much they need our help, when all we can do is argue about whether or not Mr. Viersen will testify. Couldn't we declare a truce, agree to pass this bill, after which we'll have plenty of time to quibble?
I'm sure no one in Canada is going to vote differently in the next election because Mr. Viersen will have come here to testify. He's going to say he's against abortion, that's for sure. He's said it in every forum. He's not going to change his mind, he's going to repeat it. What will that change? The Conservatives won't be any less well represented or any different in the next election campaign. For their part, the Liberals have nothing to gain. We know as well as anyone that Mr. Viersen is against abortion. It's all over the media. Just recently, I read a few reports about it.
What's distressing, however, is that there are victims, young people under 18 who appear in pornographic videos circulating on the web. We all agree that this makes no sense. Yet it's simple: Bill C‑270 says that, before distributing a pornographic film or publishing such images, the distributor will have to make sure that the protagonists are of age, i.e., over 18, and consenting. I simply can't believe that we're going to continue to bicker for weeks on end, and that at the end of the day, we're going to tell these people that they're going to continue to be victims and that we're sorry, but that it's not our fault, because that's the way things are, all because we're being stubborn.
I don't understand the reasoning behind this. Quite frankly, I find the situation very unedifying. As I've already said, I have a great deal of respect for my colleagues who, on both sides, are now systematically obstructing this bill. I believe they are intelligent men and women. Most of us are professionals, and we're all aware that the way we're acting right now makes no sense whatsoever. Couldn't we make a little effort? For my part, I'm ready. I don't know if there's anything I can do, but if there is, I'm going to do it.
Please, let's spare a thought for these victims. Instead of using them by saying that Mr. Viersen would come and say this or that, or that he would think this or that, let's think about these victims and pass Bill C‑270.
Thank you, Madam Chair.