Madam Speaker, I would like to ask a very direct question of the hon. member opposite because certainly what this bill does do is it equates a same sex relationship with a common law heterosexual relationship. I am sure he would agree that the reason why we have common law relationships is because they are specifically not marriage.
I do not follow his reasoning that this is a threat to marriage in some way because we have grouped same sex couples with common law heterosexual couples. However, I do take note of his point. It is regrettable that this bill does not define marriage as a relationship between opposite sex couples.
I would like to ask him if the bill did define marriage in the way we all agree that marriage should be defined and the way marriage is defined in common law, would he then be able to support this legislation?