Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to the House today with regard to the issue of adding the term sexual orientation to the list already found in the Canadian Human Rights Act. During the course of my speech I will make an effort to express the concerns of my constituents of Wild Rose.
One evening at a public meeting a constituent stated an old proverb to me, that there is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to trouble. She was addressing her concerns to the addition of sexual orientation to a list which already exists and that this would only extend the list and not answer the problems of discrimination. She believed the best way to fight discrimination was to continually promote equality and forget about a list, as there would surely be a number of individuals omitted.
Everyone present agreed with the statement that every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination. They felt that was sufficient, as it does promote equality, and therefore should be enforced.
This legislation is a way of expressing distrust in Canadians' value of tolerance. One of the most important values my wife and I picked up on when we arrived in Canada from the United States in the 1960s was that Canadians were a tolerant people, something we found lacking in the United States
During my past 30 years of working in Canada, particularly in the province of Alberta, I found the tolerance of Canadians to remain constant. However, some things that are happening due to government intervention have made some individuals feel more and more as if they are being discriminated against simply because they are not on the list.
Many white young males are suddenly being made aware that they do not fit the criteria to join police departments, fire departments, EMT squads or the military simply because of their physical make-up. Making a list has resulted in affirmative action and as a result the future hopes and dreams of many of these young men are diminished. Merit, which used to be a primary factor, has quickly disappeared.
The constituents of Wild Rose have told me this is wrong. According to a booklet prepared by the Department of Justice this amendment is made to specifically apply to the protection of gays and lesbians as this lifestyle is referred to on page 14 of this 25 page document.
Therefore it is safe to assume the government defines, although not specifically, homosexuality as sexual orientation. Homosexuality is considered by the majority of Wild Rose constituents as an immoral, unacceptable lifestyle in Canadian society. They ask questions regarding their personal values such as whether it will become illegal to preach from a pulpit against homosexuality. They ask other questions:"Will my children be taught in schools that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle in society. As taxpayers will I be required to financially support this lifestyle in any way? As a landlord will I be required to rent my apartment to a homosexual couple? As an employer will I be required to hire a homosexual over a heterosexual applicant, or will merit be allowed? Will this legislation lead to legal marriages of homosexuals? Will this legislation lead to homosexuals being allowed to adopt children?"
All these questions raised are not answered in this piece of legislation. The problem that will arise in the future is that it will be up to the courts to decide answers to these questions. Ultimately the courts will not be accountable to the people.
Many people believe this legislation opens the door to a slippery slope that will lead to the very things people object to.
No one in my riding accepts discrimination of any form. The minister's saying "no longer will you have to sit at the back of the bus", is a statement which clearly says "we do not trust you, we have no faith in you, therefore we will legislate for you".
Canadians are generally a tolerant people. However, intolerance will show its ugly head if the government continues to legislate for the people. Laws such as this clearly indicate our distrust as politicians in the people of Canada. Sometimes people believe governments should butt out of societal values. My constituents can be included in that group.
I support all the motions in Group No. 1, particularly the motion put forward by my colleague, the hon. member for Port Moody-Coquitlam, which will protect the definition of family, marriage and spouse.
I find it sad for democracy when members are not allowed the opportunity to speak to their own motions or the legislation as a whole.