Madam Speaker, I must concede that I am not aware of the full details of the Quebec bills. I have heard of them and he has alluded to them in the debate today.
One of the very valuable things that happens in the House is that we get to know more about each other. We understand each other better and we see where we are all coming from. I certainly agree with the member that if there is a good system in place in that province it should be allowed to work. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that idea.
However, when we are talking about the welfare of children it is very important for children to be in a home in which there is a stable relationship between their parents.
It is distressing to me when I look at the demographics across the country that there is a variation among people who enter into long term, permanent, legal relationships with each other in order to make a family and have children.
I simply respond to the member by saying that the issue in Quebec is no less than it is in any of the other provinces with respect to the care of children. We need to make them our focus. There is a great need there. Many of our children are growing up in homes where the parents are not permanently committed to each other. In those situations statistics show that children are at greater risk in terms of their own personal well-being and welfare.
Personally I think we ought to emphasize more the stabilization of families. One book I read recently indicated that one of the greatest stresses in a marriage relationship is financial. More husbands and wives argue about money than just about anything else. In this country we are nigh taxed to death. The government with its high taxation rates is adding to the stresses of families and thereby contributing to family break-up.
If we could only get that part solved and leave more money in the hands of families so they could provide for each other and their children, we would have less stress and a smaller problem in terms of looking after children from broken homes and from broken relationships where there was no marriage. We should be placing the greatest emphasis on the welfare of those dear children.
I am a grandparent now. When I had my own children they were very special to us. Now we have grandchildren. They just touch my heart. When I see how important they are, how I wish that every family would look at their children with respect, deep love and caring so that we could keep our families together and keep the children in a nice, stable home where they have the best advantages and the greatest security that are important to them.