Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, December 10, is the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the founding of a new world that advocates equality for all.
Our Canadian charter is an important example of such ambition, and we heard this morning a landmark decision from the Supreme Court reinforcing the right to equal marriage for gay and lesbian couples, one proud step forward for Canada.
However, for every step forward, there are two steps backward. The United Nations announced this morning that one billion children are without basic food and shelter and live in poverty, disease and despair. At the same time, the Bush administration wants to spend one trillion dollars on star wars. This money could address the fundamental needs of every single one of those children for housing, food, sanitation, health care and education.
Parliament has a responsibility to uphold human rights and that means we must at once implement equal marriage laws and fight star wars. Let us act swiftly and with resolve.