Mr. Speaker, there have been no less than seven justice ministers who I have had to listen to in this House. They all made promises to make sexual orientation a prohibited ground of discrimination. Not one of them did. Gay and lesbian Canadians have paid the price until now.
We are very fortunate to have a minister who is prepared to move ahead to finally give gays and lesbians the same status, the same protection from discrimination as all other Canadians now enjoy: nothing more, nothing less. The bill will not, as many members fear, have anything to do with being protected in three areas. There will be no changes in the definitions of marriage or family. It will not legalize criminal sexual behaviour. It will not confer benefits.
I find it somewhat unfair and irresponsible for hon. members of this House to say that those issues will be covered in the bill. They know perfectly well it is not so. They are using this issue to promote their own ends. The bill does not confer benefits. It does not cover illegal acts or criminal acts. It does not change the definition of family.
If we want to have the discussion at some time about the state of the family, we should put it on the agenda. The state of the family is a reflection of economic, social and political realities in the country at this time. Those factors are causing some of the concerns regarding families.
Lesbians have families. Gays have families. There are reconstituted families. There are common law families. There are all kinds of families. This bill deals with sexual orientation and asks that as a group these people not be discriminated against. It is only fair.
When was the last time that granting equal rights to women diminished the rights of-