Mr. Speaker, at the conclusion of my intervention prior to the question period I was trying to make the point that an amendment should be moved that would ensure all Canadians continue to have the most closely held values in our society, namely the freedom of association and freedom of worship. Further, the state should not be intervening in issues that have to do with the church. That has to do with Motion No. 10 by my colleague from Edmonton.
My colleague from Port Moody also added Motions Nos. 13 and 14. Motion No. 13 adds a new clause which states that sexual orientation will not affect the enforcement of provisions of the Criminal Code and Motion No. 14 adds a new clause to affirm that nothing in the bill will result in the extension of same sex benefits.
Members have received rather hollow assurances from the spokespersons for the government that this legislation will do no such thing. I draw to the attention of the government that we have an out of control constitutional industry that is populated by high priced lawyers located primarily here in Ottawa who do nothing but look at the laws that we currently have on the books. What do we find but that we have a constitutional industry or overriding legislation, such as this legislation would be which overrides all sorts of laws and provisions in law.
I suggest there is no way that the government and the justice minister in good conscience can say that this legislation will not form a future challenge to existing legislation.
I wish to quote the member for Mississauga South who today said: "The fundamental point is that all legislation, all policy, is by its very nature discriminatory. Discrimination is not all bad. We all agree that there is unjust discrimination. It is the positive discrimination or, in American terms affirmative action, that allows us to discriminate in favour of the family because of its special status. We discriminate in favour of disabled people, aboriginal people,
seniors, just to name a few. Discrimination is not all unjust. It reflects societal norms and values".
I agree with the member. Perhaps his logical, common sense intervention in this debate is an example of why so many of the members who have been in the House all day long on the Liberal side have been denied the ability to become involved in this debate. They have a point of view that happens to be contrary to all the right thinking Liberals, if you know what I mean, Mr. Speaker, all of those Liberals who know what is right for Canada and will impose it on us whether we like it or not.
What is the scandal of this legislation and the way in which it is being jammed through this House? The scandal is the massive hypocrisy of the Liberal government on this issue. There are people in the Liberal benches who believe the same things that I and my colleagues in the Reform Party believe, indeed the vast majority of Canadians believe, that this is bad, ill-thought out, unnecessary legislation. Yet this government in its hypocrisy is denying them the right to stand up and speak, to which I say to this government, shame on you.
In conclusion, this is a very difficult and very emotional debate for many people in Canada to whom this is a very closely held value. I recognize that.
However, it does not change the fact that denying people the right to express their points of view in the House of Commons is absolute censorship and dictatorship on the part of this government and it should not be countenanced by anyone in the government.