Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member and agree with much he said. I agree that there is no right and wrong in this issue and that there is not a riding in this country where there are not people on both sides of this very passionately felt issue.
In that respect, as a member I am very proud of Canadians, this Parliament and my constituents for the civility with which they have had this debate. They are thinking of the rights of others. They are tolerant of others and other points of view and are having a very reasonable debate.
I want to go on the record as saying that my constituents, like everyone else in the country, are very split on this. There are very passionate feelings on both sides of this issue. I, like the hon. member, would like a solution that unites the country rather than divides it, as it seems it is today. I am glad the member believes there are minds that can come up with that solution, one which would unite Canadians, not divide them.
I would like to ask the hon. member about one possible solution he has proposed in regard to a civil union. My sense is that it might backfire. People who would still want to be married and to use the term marriage might then challenge the churches in the courts. The churches might then lose that challenge. I think there would be chaos in the country if we tried to force various religions to do something they would not want to do. One of the aspects of the bill is to protect religious freedom as well as equality of access.