Mr. Speaker, before I comment in general on Bill C-33 I will comment on some information that has been conveyed from the other side of the House about censorship and not allowing debate.
If I remember correctly, when second reading of this bill came to a free vote, some government members voted for and some against. The Reform Party voted as a block with no free votes, 29-zip. We will have to see where there is democracy and where there is not.
The issue before us is far too important for that type of suggestion from the member. Let us talk about the substance of this bill which I think is important. I agree with the member when he says that it is controversial.
Some of the words in the legislation worry people, they scare people. Some people feel, I do not think accurately, that their lifestyles and beliefs are threatened. They are not threatened.
This bill is not about special rights for anyone or even about special privileges for individuals. It is about equal rights for all of us. It is about protecting through the law the rights of our fellow humans not to be discriminated against, not to lose their jobs because of their sexual orientation, their race or their religion.
If ever we needed to fight for this legislative protection, we saw that reason very clearly last week when we heard the comments of some of the members who sit opposite. Some of their comments reflect prejudice and intolerance. We heard outrageous comments. Those comments have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that discrimination exists in Canadian society and it is imperative for government to deal with that. That discrimination is shameful.
Discrimination is a total violation of all that we as Canadians hold dear. Firing someone, sending someone to the back of the shop because of who they are or what they are, be it race, gender, sexual orientation or religion is simply wrong.
As a government we need to show leadership on this issue. It is our duty to lead by example and to amend the human rights act to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. As I said earlier, the recent press reports of last week make that very very clear.
I am a strong supporter of the family and I wholeheartedly believe that families will continue to act as pillars of strength and unity in our society. I also wholeheartedly believe in human rights for all and that is why I speak in support of these rights for all Canadians.
The Canadian Human Rights Act already contains a list of prohibited grounds of discrimination. Adding sexual orientation to that list would help ensure that Canadians cannot be discriminated against in such areas as employment, accommodation, access to goods and services solely because of their sexual orientation.
This is not about the extension of benefits to same sex couples. It is not about changing the definition of marriage, family or spouse. The bill we are debating today simply guarantees the rights of individuals to live their lives free of discrimination.
We are also affirming the importance of the family as a foundation of Canadian society. I quote from the preamble to the bill:
And whereas the Government recognizes and affirms the importance of family as the foundation of Canadian society and that nothing in this Act alters its fundamental role in society;
I could vote against this amendment to the human rights act. I am sure that voting against it would make some of my constituents happy, just as it would disappoint others.
However, at the end of the day my time as a parliamentarian will come to an end and I will have to answer to myself. Was it right what I did? Did I do what I believed in? Did I do what I believed was right for Canada and for Canadians?
I will be able to answer yes because discrimination is wrong and saying it is wrong is exactly what is right. Someone ought to tell the Reform Party that.
I wish to tell the Reform Party that discrimination is wrong and just saying it is wrong is simply not good enough. It is the actions we take in the House as parliamentarians that people will remember and act on. It is the action that we take in passing the bill that will clearly demonstrate to Canadians that discrimination is wrong and will not be tolerated in Canadian society.
I ask the members of the Reform Party to join with me in voting for this amendment so that their actions state clearly, as their recent words have, that they also believe discrimination is wrong.
There is a pressing need for this legislation. I hope the members opposite will do what is right and support the passage of this amendment.
As parliamentarians we have an obligation to Canadians. We have an obligation to our constituents. We also have an obligation to do what is right for the nation, which is to state clearly and unequivocally that discrimination is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
If supporting this legislation costs me votes in the next election, so be it. If it costs me friends, I will have to live with that as well because I believe discrimination on any grounds is wrong. I will back that belief with my vote and the vote of my constituents who share this conviction and who want their children to grow up in a world free of hatred and bias. For those reasons I will vote in favour of this at third reading.