Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments and questions from the member for Yukon. I had the pleasure of visiting his beautiful riding this summer.
I would suggest that, in his words, compassion being the backdrop to all of this would prevent any suggestion of that, and regardless of the Parliament of Canada putting forward a definition that would create a new definition in the civil context, it would not result in some sort of marriage police going around the country chastising or charging individuals for using the term marriage as opposed to union or partnership.
Ironically, I first turned my mind to the issue of registered domestic partnerships or civil unions in speaking to a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, the member from Edmonton, Ian McClelland. There is not a person in this country, I would suggest, who has not been touched in some way personally by this debate. I suggest that we can create a new definition of marriage outside of the religious aspect, leaving that sole jurisdiction to the churches of the country. In fact and in fairness, that is part of the spirit of the legislation, which is in draft form, but I believe we should instill within that definition that “marriage” is the lawful union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. Second, notwithstanding that definition, “union” or “partnership” for a civil purpose is the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others.
There is a way. And I think the will exists among the silent majority on both sides of this debate to find an acceptable, tolerant, compassionate and inclusive way to allow two persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, to come together and receive equal treatment, equal benefits and equal respect under the law, but without infringing upon what has been there for time immemorial, and that is a definition of marriage that gives this country part of its moral fabric.