Mr. Speaker, I agree with what the hon. member recently said. I think the point is simple. To date, there has been recognition of conjugal relationships. Those relationships have been marriage and common law relationships for heterosexual persons who have been living together for a year or more.
The supreme court has told us that we have discriminated against other conjugal relationships that are not heterosexual. We are bringing this to a level playing field. It is about fairness. It is about equality. It is about human rights.
Why does the member bring up a red herring about dependent relationships when he knows full well that the minister has said that the issue of other dependent relationships will be brought up in the future, but that it entails federal and provincial jurisdictions and will need a great deal of work? Was the member not listening to the minister when she spoke? Can he answer me that?