In the justice committee on November 17, 1994 the justice minister stated:
But the second and I believe the more important reason for legislating is that one of the legitimate purposes of Parliament and of legislation is to allow the legislators to identify themselves with a principle, to take the lead and to show what the values are that guide us as a nation.
We may have different views on what those values are, but this bill reflects the values and views of this government in relation to this matter.
I beg to differ with our justice minister on this issue. With confidence I say that section 718.2 does not reflect the principles and values of the Canadian majority. As of June 6, 1995 this honourable House had received over 83,000 signatures on petitions directly related to the wording of sexual orientation. Since September 20, 1994 I have received in my office alone over 10,000 letters, faxes and telephone calls confirming the views, values, principles and morality of Canadian people.
The media can attest to the interest shown in Bill C-41 on the issues of principles, values and morals. Talk show hosts, radio, television, newspapers, magazines and all Canadians are talking about Bill C-41 and its serious implications. No more. Canadians are not prepared to silently acquiesce in legislative change which will affect their right to speech, right to expression, opinion and belief, the right to freedom of religion and most important, the right to practise all those freedoms openly without fear of intimidation, coercion or criminal sanction.
Section 718.2 is incorporated in the Criminal Code of Canada. Whether the question of the purpose of the criminal law is approached from a retributive or a utilitarian direction, it is important to understand that the fundamental nature of criminal
law sanctions is punitive. The criminal law and the criminal justice system constitute the end point on a continuum of informal and formal customs, beliefs and institutions of social control, the end point in terms of the ultimately coercive intervention of the state in the lives of its citizens.
Simply put, the criminal sanction of section 718.2 will ultimately operate to elevate the existing Canadian legal test of tolerance to a higher legal standard whereby Canadians are required not only to be tolerant of homosexuals and their chosen lifestyles, but they must condone, accept and endorse homosexuality as being natural and moral.
Canadians do not have to accept homosexuality as being natural and moral. Homosexuality is not natural; it is immoral. Homosexuality must not and should not be condoned.