The Fiasco on Bill C-23 (Same-sex Benefits)

There is absolutely nothing that the Chrétien Liberal government has done since it attained power in 1993 that has exposed its contempt for the voters more than its forcing of Bill C-23 (same-sex benefits) through Parliament.

Despite the fact that the media deliberately played down Bill C-23, the public was aware of this Bill due to the wonderful network of pro-family groups across the country. Letters, e-mails, phone calls and petitions poured in to MPs expressing objections to the Bill. The number of people objecting to Bill C-23 even exceeded the number of objections made to Bill C-28, (the firearms legislation) and child pornography - both issues that have aroused hot passions in usually staid Canadians.

The Liberal government, however, disdainfully ignored this public display of abhorrence to Bill C-23. Instead, it forced the Bill through the House of Commons in a matter of a few days, both on second and third reading.

During the third reading of the Bill, the Canadian Alliance party put forward many amendments in an attempt to protect traditional marriage which is undermined by this Bill. Liberal MP, Tom Wappel, a long-time supporter of traditional values also put forward an amendment in support of the traditional definition of marriage to be inserted in the Bill - all to no avail.

The obedient Liberal MPs (with merely 17 brave exceptions) voted for the Bill, along with all the Bloc Québecois present, the NDP and four Conservatives, in a vote of 176 - 72. This final vote, on third reading, took place on Tuesday, April 11th, after the Liberals, as usual, had forced a time allocation motion to shut down the third reading debate. The democratic process is definitely not a concern for this party.

The Future of Bill C-23

The Bill has now been raced through the Standing Senate Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs. Few witnesses were called to testify as the government wants this bill passed before the House of Commons recesses for the summer on June 23rd. REAL Women appeared before the Senate Committee on May 31, 2000. We did our very best to convince the Committee about the problems with the bill - to no avail.

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