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Liberals Capitulate On Homosexual Demands
On the same day last year that the Liberal government
brought in Bill C-23, (its amendment to 68 federal statutes to provide
equal benefits to homosexual partners), John Fisher, the Executive
Director of the Ottawa-based homosexual organization, EGALE, e-mailed
his contacts about the Bill. In particular, he stated that the issue
of immigration was of critical importance to the homosexual community,
but that the specific provision in Bill C-23, that homosexuals must
co-habit for one year in order to qualify for equal recognition
was unworkable in regard to immigration. He stated that some homosexual
partners were unable to co-habit together prior to immigration to
Canada [because of laws and cultural impediments in other jurisdictions]
that prevent such co-habitation. He stated that because of this,
it was preferable that the requirements of homosexual partners in
regard to immigration should not be included in Bill C-23, but should
be addressed later in separate legislation when it can be "better
tailored" to the unique needs of gays. (See REALity, March/April
2000, "The Justice Department's Private Consultations with
Homosexuals," page 2.)
And that is exactly what happened. Bill C-23 did not include any
reference to the Immigration Act relating to homosexual partners.
Instead, Bill C-11, the immigration legislation
tabled in February, included special provisions to facilitate homosexual
partners immigrating to Canada. As discussed previously in our analysis
of Bill C-11 (See REALity, March/April 2001, "New Immigration
Bill Tabled Creating More Problems", page 9), the regulations
under this Bill will permit homosexual partners to immigrate to
Canada as legal spouses.
REAL Women recently obtained a copy of the background paper on the
regulations which are to be passed under Bill C-11 called "Explanation
of Proposed Regulations," issued in March, 2001. According
to this paper, under the heading "Family Class Sponsorships,"
it was stated that the government intends to pass regulations that
will:
- Provide that an individual who has been in a
conjugal relationship with a person for at least one year, but
has been unable to cohabit with the person due to exceptional
reasons such as persecution or any form of penal control, may
be considered a common-law partner of the person;
- Ensure consistency with the Modernization of
Benefits and Obligations Act (Bill C-23) passed in June 2000;
- Be sensitive to the needs of same-sex couples
who cannot live together in the country of origin.
Interestingly, the paper also stated:
- No major area has been taken out of the current
Immigration Act and delegated to regulations by Bill C-11.
This latter statement is categorically untrue. The
definition of "spouse" is a matter of policy, not merely
an administrative detail to be enacted by regulation. Yet this definition
is to be passed by way of regulation, behind the scenes, instead of
in the Bill itself, where it would be debated in Parliament and subject
to public scrutiny.
Moreover, the legislation Modernization of Benefits and Obligations
Act (Bill C-23) referred to in the background paper on regulations
did not require that homosexuals be regarded as legal "spouses."
Rather, it provided that homosexual partners receive the same benefits
as heterosexual couples - but made no reference whatsoever to the
definition of spouse or the legal status of same-sex
partners. (See article "REAL Women Upsets Government Committee
with the Truth).
Please write and raise your objections to the duplicity of the Liberal
government and its caving in to the demands of homosexual activists,
rather than listening to the views of the majority of Canadians.
Ms. Elinor Caplan
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Jean Edmonds South Tower, 21st Floor
365 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1A 1L1
Tel 613-954-1064
Fax 613-952-5533
Your MP
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A OA6
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