Madam Speaker, I applaud the member for his speech. As a lawyer, he has done a masterful job of talking for an hour and not taking any firm position on this particular bill. I have listened to him, and at times I thought he was for it and at other times against it. At the end of the day, I do not think anybody knows where he is on the bill.
I would like the member to clarify for the record a couple of points, if possible. Does the member or his party see any legitimate, unique public policy interest in recognizing the institution of marriage? Bill C-23 applies every benefit and obligation, with the exception of the Divorce Act, to what is called a common law partner, which is subject to a conjugality term. We now have every benefit and obligation for marriage applied to these common law partnerships. Is that the way the member wants to go or does he see a unique public policy interest in the institution of marriage?