Madam Speaker, I actually think the bill is quite clear. As long as we keep before us the idea that something that exists in common law is a common law relationship because it is not marriage. In syntax and in grammatical sense, if it is common law it means that it is not marriage. Whether the common law relationship is same sex or heterosexual it does not matter. The final answer is that if it is common law it is not marriage. In fact, we may put it in another way. The bill creates a condition where if you are living in sin and getting benefits, it does not matter how you are living in sin.
In the House of Commons on February 21st, 2000. See this statement in context.