Madam Speaker, perseverance pays off.
I have trouble figuring out the member's position. I must congratulate the member for Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, who guessed the member is going to support the bill.
The member started by saying that it was both a bad and a good bill, that he was against it, but that he would support it. He was against same sex couples being married, but he is willing to accept their staying together and being recognized. I really have trouble understanding the member, and people who are listening to us probably have the same problem as I have.
If the House recognizes same sex couples, it must give them the same benefits and obligations as heterosexual couples. If we give them the same benefits and obligations, are we ready to recognize that a homosexual couple, a gay or a lesbian couple, can have a family and adopt children? What will happen when a homosexual couple applies for an international adoption? We know that heterosexual couples, a man and a woman, can adopt children internationally.
For example, a homosexual couple, two men, applies to China to adopt a little girl. The investigation will show they are both men, they have been living together for several years, they are working, they own a house, and have a good income. But will foreign countries be willing to give children up for adoption to homosexual couples?