Mr. Speaker, considering the imposition of time allocation on Bill C-33, I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on this piece of legislation. However, I must inform the House that it is not a pleasure. I would have far preferred if this legislation were not brought forward by the Liberal government.
I will begin my remarks by indicating my approval for the amendments we are presently discussing. They are put forward in good faith, dramatically improve the intent of the bill and make it much more palatable. It is certainly my wish to see them passed and the bill amended as in the grouping of the first nine amendments.
In particular I should like to indicate my support for the basic thrust of Motion No. 11 put forward by my colleague. It would add a new clause affirming that sexual orientation will not redefine the terms marriage, family and spouse in any act of Parliament.
This is particularly important because this area seems to be causing so much concern among the constituents of Prince George-Peace River, the riding in northeastern British Columbia which I represent. The people of Canada from coast to coast to coast are very concerned about this amendment being put forward and about the term sexual orientation when it has not been defined by the justice minister or by Parliament.
I would like to read into the record "A Statement Regarding Bill C-33" from the Archdiocese of Vancouver:
In order for the federal government's proposed amendment of the Canadian Human Rights Act regarding sexual orientation to be acceptable, three basic safeguards need to be built into the legislation. First, sexual orientation must be defined; second, the amendment must not be used to give homosexual couples marital or marriage-like status; third, the conscience rights of Canadians morally opposed to homosexual behaviour must be protected.
Sexual orientation should be defined to refer to homosexual persons but not homosexual activity. By homosexual persons I mean individuals who experience a predominant, exclusive or very strong attraction to members of their own sex. Such a definition will ensure that the focus of the amendment will be where it should be: on prohibiting unjust discrimination against homosexual persons who have the same inalienable human dignity as other members of society. By specifying homosexual persons, the definition also would prevent the amendment from being used to protect pedophilia or other aberrant sexual behaviour.
It is also necessary for the legislation to explicitly state that the amendments should not be used to redefine the meaning of marriage, family or spouse so as to include homosexual couples or confer marriage-like benefits on such couples. Without such a statement, the amendment's preamble, which refers to preserving the role of "family", is unclear and subject to misinterpretation.
Thirdly, the legislation should make it clear that the amendment is not to be used to restrain Canadians who are opposed to homosexual behaviour from acting in conformity with their conscience, assuming they maintain due respect for homosexual persons. It should not force them to do something which reflects approval for homosexual behaviour, and it should not prevent them from doing
something which reflects disapproval for such behaviour. For example, it should allow employers to make the non-practice of homosexual activity a bona fides occupational qualification. (Manitoba's human rights act explicitly provides for this).
These safeguards are necessary to preserve the common good while at the same time enabling Canadian society to clearly oppose unjust discrimination toward homosexual persons.
This document comes to me from the most Reverend Adam Exner, OMI, with the archbishop's office in Vancouver. I thought it was particularly appropriate to read it into the record because it certainly fits in quite nicely with amendments we are debating at present.
Motion No. 12, also submitted by my colleague, adds a new clause affirming that sexual orientation will not affect freedom of religion, expression and association as guaranteed in the charter of rights and freedoms.
I refer briefly to the Reform blue book. Bill C-33 has certainly caused quite a stir in the Reform Party, the Liberal Party and most if not all political parties over the last week or so since it was introduced in the House.
This is my first opportunity to speak to the bill because over the last couple of weeks I was back in my riding. There are many people at the grassroots level across Canada discussing the legislation. There is open and honest discussion about the possible ramifications of Bill C-33.
The constituents of Prince George-Peace River have made it very clear to me as their elected member where the majority of them stood on the bill. Motion No. 12 dovetails nicely with principle number eight in the Reform blue book:
We believe that every individual, group, province and region in Canada is entitled to fundamental justice. That fundamental justice entitles the people of each region to benefit equally, without discrimination, from participation in Confederation and from the programs and expenditures of the Government of Canada.
Certainly that fits in quite nicely with this amendment. That is why we are supporting this motion.
Motion No. 13 warrants some attention. It adds a new clause that sexual orientation will not affect the enforcement of provisions in the Criminal Code.
Motion No. 14 adds a new clause to affirm that nothing in the bill will result in the extension of same sex benefits. This is consistent with Reform policy and consistent with survey results from my own riding.
I conducted the survey in a householder in the spring of 1994, some two years ago, but it is still appropriate today. Because we were forewarned in the infamous Liberal red book of what they intended to do, I took it upon myself to ask questions of the constituents of Peace George-Peace River. Over 1,200 constituents replied to the questionnaire.
Question No. 3 indicated that the Canadian Human Rights Act should prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It was very succinct and very straightforward. Thirty-four per cent of the respondents agreed, fifty-four per cent disagreed and twelve per cent were undecided. It was not a large majority but a majority nonetheless.
On the accompanying question of same sex couples being eligible for spousal benefits received by traditional couples, men and women, 16 per cent agreed, 75 per cent disagreed and 9 per cent were undecided.
The vast majority of the constituents of Prince George-Peace River feel quite strongly about the issue, certainly those who responded to the questionnaire at any rate.
As early as about an hour ago I was faxed a memo from one of the more prominent radio stations with a very high profile talk show, CJDC out of Dawson Creek in my riding. It is signed by a number of people who work at the station and states:
I oppose the initiative to have sexual orientation added to the Canadian Human Rights Act without definition and proper input from the Canadian people.
A large number of people have advised me as their representative how they feel I should be voting on this piece of legislation. I have received over 100 E-mail letters in the last two days alone, all in opposition to the bill. I have received faxes, phone calls and personal consultation over the last couple of weeks I had the opportunity to travel throughout my riding. Certainly constituents were coming to me and making their views known on this piece of legislation.
In summary, without these amendments being passed I will have to vote against the legislation, not because any individual should suffer from discrimination but having the term undefined could lead to all types of things that I have clearly laid out in speeches in the past. Those are my concerns and therefore I will be voting against Bill C-33.