Mr. Speaker, with respect to the last part of the question on same sex marriages, my understanding is that marriage is within provincial jurisdiction. I am not familiar with the case cited by my hon. colleague. I am not sure at what level it was, if it had been appealed and so on. I am satisfied and confident that the amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act to include sexual orientation will not affect marriages.
I am not saying that some day same sex marriages will not be recognized. I am not saying whether they should or should not be. That is not before the House at this time. I am dealing with what we have in front of us.
The hon. member also mentioned the red book. I do not know why things were not included in the red book. I was not an author of the red book. I was a member of the party and attended party policy meetings. This measure has been part of Liberal Party policy since 1978. It was voted in by the grassroots levels of the party. As recently as last weekend the Ontario wing of the Liberal Party of Canada passed a motion with a large majority that this measure should be carried out.
The member has indicated this is an issue in my riding. I have had a few calls from people who in good faith have very real concerns. A lot of those concerns are based on inaccuracies; they are concerns that will not follow from these amendments.