Madam Speaker, it never ceases to amaze me the nonsense that spews from the mouths of Reformers on occasion. The nonsense has come forward today in relation to this bill, an important bill in a number of respects. The bill would allow one of our eminent jurists to do a very important international duty, to prosecute war crimes at the request of the United Nations.
Canada has always been in the vanguard of justice on the international front. It has always stood for integrity and responsibility in doing our part to ensure that war crimes are punished and that our nation participates in just causes. It is out of respect for the reputation of Canada that Canadians are often asked to participate in such fora.
However, something so good and so noble is being dragged through the gutter by the Reform Party. That ought not to surprise anybody. If anybody is interfering with judicial independence, it is the Reform Party. There is no doubt that Madam Justice Arbour will acquit herself and her country well in her new duties. We feel it appropriate to bring forward the amendments and allow this to happen in accordance with the rules of the United Nations.
Another point has been raised by hon. members of the Reform Party. They have questioned the integrity of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. What is being brought forward in this bill is simply an amendment to bring the Judges Act in relations to pensions into equality with public service pensions, members of Parliament pensions and with other pensions. This amendment has been requested for a significant number of years. It has been brought forward along with a number of other amendments to the Judges Act. It is that simple.
The Reform Party questions how many people on the bench are married to other judges. There are four couples that we know of in that circumstance. There may be more but they are not required to report to the Minister of Justice when they fall in love and decide to get married. However, something that is good, something that is
appropriate and something that brings these plans into line with other plans is being questioned and turned into something bad.
This is very symptomatic of all that the Reform Party has stood for and has brought forward. It is to take things that are good and honourable and to turn them into something else. I ask the hon. member, in light of these circumstance, why the Reform Party continues to try and degrade good pieces of legislation which will bring honour to this nation?