Mr. Speaker, the member stated that it is mere rhetoric coming from the Reform Party and that we have no respect for our justice system.
I want to tell the parliamentary secretary that I am an officer of the court and I have the highest respect for our justice system. My father was a judge in this country for 25 years and I have learned to respect our justice system.
That does not mean it is infallible. That does not mean it is perfect. We cannot abrogate our responsibility. There is nothing stopping us today from acting. We have a duty to protect citizens right across the country.
The parliamentary secretary has insulted every Canadian by referring to this issue as mere rhetoric. It is a disgrace. We are here speaking for every Canadian on this issue.
Why does the parliamentary secretary believe that she cannot do anything in this House, she cannot stand up, that does not preclude this process from going through the appeal? We in the Reform Party absolutely believe that this decision has to be appealed. Yes, there is a man who walked out of court free. We believe that should be appealed. He should be brought back before the courts. The courts should overturn that decision and hold him accountable and send him to jail. His actions are not acceptable.
That does not stop us from acting now. Canadians should not be forced to wait six months, a year, or a year and a half for some type of action while this issue sits, while we wait for interveners. Will all the provinces come on board?
We do not have to wait. We have a tool that was made available for us to use. Why is the Government of Canada afraid to use that tool? It is so painfully simple. I am going to read section 33 of the Constitution:
Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare in an act of parliament or the legislature as the case may be, that the act of a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding a provision included in section 2 or section 7 to 15 of this charter.
That is exactly what we are dealing with here. We have an opportunity to put the rights of the innocent, the most vulnerable in our society, the defenceless, our children, ahead of those of the sick-minded pedophiles who use and want to possess this child pornography.
How is that rhetoric? That is straight fact. It does not preclude us from the appeal process. We support the appeal process. We must do that. It does not hamper it in any way. We reinforce it by putting our point on the record.
Why is the member not prepared to support the appeal process as opposed to sitting back and being silent?