Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition which like other petitions is on behalf of thousands and thousands of Canadians.
The petitioners indicate that there has been empirical evidence of the value of marriage as a cornerstone of public policy which produces tangible public benefits and that parliament has reaffirmed that marriage is and should remain the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. However, the government has brought forth Bill C-23 which extends marriage-like benefits to same sex couples. Therefore the petitioners pray that parliament withdraw Bill C-23 before it is passed today.