Madam Speaker, to begin my portion of this debate I would like to read into the record a column which I just published in our local newspapers.
The federal government has introduced a new Bill C-33 that would introduce the term "sexual orientation" into Canada's human rights charter. Liberal members of Parliament claim that the special inclusion for homosexuals in the charter would ensure their protection.
I believe that all Canadians are entitled to equal rights, responsibilities and protection under our current human rights legislation. In fact, this is a fundamental principle in Canadian law. Section 15(1) of the charter applies to all Canadians: Every individual is equal before the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination-.
If this is the case, you, like me, must be asking yourself why we need to identify a particular group as needing special protection. Each and every one of us is a human being with a right to be treated equally and fairly.
There are some other concerns about the specific language and intention of the bill. The first is that "sexual orientation" is not defined anywhere in Bill C-33. This leaves the bill open to interpretation. The second concern that has been brought to my attention is how including sexual orientation in human rights legislation will affect the right of homosexuals to claim marital or marriage-like status. Finally, that the conscience rights of Canadians who may be morally opposed to homosexual behaviour be protected.
Based on what I have outlined here and what I believe to be the opinion of the majority of my constituents, I will vote against Bill C-33. I am voting no in hopes of reinforcing our belief as Canadians that we are all equal with no special status for any persons or groups.
Speaking to the motions before the House, I support Motion No. 11 moved by one of our members. It adds a new clause defining that sexual orientation will not redefine the terms marriage, family and spouse in any act of Parliament.
I say the following to my friend from Thunder Bay and to other members of the Liberal Party. The government has decided it is going to be including the word family in the preamble to the law. Notwithstanding that the preamble has no force of law and it is only a preamble to the law, the fact that the word family has been put in there undefined creates exactly the same problem as the fact that the term sexual orientation has been put in there undefined.
I therefore will be voting specifically in favour of Motion No. 11 in that the term family is not defined. In addition to that, it will not redefine or define the terms marriage or spouse. This lack of definition and leaving it up to the courts is just a cop-out on the part of the House of Commons. We should say what we mean and mean what we say.
I also support Motion No. 10 moved by one of our members. This motion adds the recognition of the freedom of religious institutions, providing their practices are consistent with the charter of rights and freedoms. It should go without saying that if we extend rights to one group, by definition that means it will infringe on the rights of another group. Otherwise why would we be extending those rights in the first place?
This House as a matter of principle must always guard freedom of association and freedom of worship. This House must stand on the principle that the church may not be interfered with by the state. If, as I believe, this legislation is going to give direction to recognized and organized religious groups and organizations and is going to define what those religious groups are capable of doing or not doing, that is my worst fear. I believe it is a very real fear. It is a very real fear on the basis of what has already occurred in the province of Alberta with respect to this particular question and with respect to a college in the city of Edmonton.
This is not a partisan bill. This has clearly been shown by the fact that there are members of the Liberal Party who, like myself and my colleagues, have serious concerns about the impact of the bill. This is not a political bill in the ordinary sense and therefore I do not want to make strongly partisan comments. I want to respect the fact that there are some people in the Liberal Party who are thinking about the consequences and what this bill will do to the legitimacy of the separation of church and state.