Mr. Speaker, I am overwhelmed by the approach of this member. Certainly he has been thoughtful and has studied the bill. I commend him for that, but he leaves me with a number of unanswered questions.
I believe he is correct in saying that conjugal generally refers to a married type relationship. It does refer, though, to the sexual activity within a married relationship generally.
The new term used in the bill which has never been used before by his government is that two parties be in a relationship of a conjugal nature in the past, that they be in a conjugal relationship. They have changed it from one expression to a more loose definition, to a relationship of a conjugal nature. A moot point, perhaps, but it suggests that there is a less onerous requirement for the heterosexual type sex in the way they have used this term.
Regardless of this particular point in the debate, we have pressed the President of the Treasury Board several times to include a definition of what is meant by a relationship of a conjugal nature in the act. There is no reference to any kind of definition of it anywhere in the act so that the debate we are having today would not be necessary. That has been not dealt with. To his point I think that probably where this will end up, if this bill goes ahead, is in the courts. I am as concerned as he is that is where this will be decided.
I just wonder what he thinks the outcome will be in the courts. We had the minister tell us in the House that this was specifically intended to extend same sex benefits to those kinds of relationships. He specifically said the courts made him do it and the lawyers drafted it this way. What does the member think will be the outcome when this hits the courtroom?