Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak to Bill C-33, an amendment to the Canadian Human Rights Act.
The legislation will add sexual orientation to the list of categories offered special protection under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
I speak to this for two reasons, to be a voice for my constituents and to make the point as clearly as I can in such little time that Reformers are strong defenders of equality in this country.
I begin by reading a quote from a clergyman, Martin Niemöller, in March 1984, on his experience during the second world war and on the lack of resistance to the Nazis. The quote was put on my desk earlier today by the member for Don Valley North. I have heard the quote before, but each time I read it I find it so powerful I think it is worth presenting again. It certainly gives me a message:
"First they came for the Jews. I was silent. I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists. I was silent. I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists. I was silent. I was not a trade unionist. They came for me. There was no one left to speak for me".
Clearly we must stop this categorization of people in the country. That message was given very clearly in the quote. I will explain very directly and as succinctly as possible why Reform opposes Bill C-33.
All Canadians are already equal before the law. This is a fundamental principle of Canadian law. Section 15(1) of the charter applies to all Canadians.
It states: "Every individual is equal before the law and has the right to the equal protection and the equal benefit of the law without discrimination". The protection is in our law.
This also incidentally and perhaps importantly is the first principle in the Reform blue book, our book of policy and principles. The very first principle says this same thing. That is why Reformers believe passionately in the equality of all Canadians. There is not nor should there be any Canadian more equal than others.
I would like to end with one very short quote. I have to ask why this legislation is before the House. Does it mean that Liberals are all bad people or evil people? I say no. This quote explains why this legislation is before the House-