Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, human rights legislation across Canada prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees equality under the law to all individuals and various courts across Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada, have ruled that laws which treat individuals living in same-sex relationships differently from individuals living in opposite-sex common-law relationships can be found to be unconstitutional.
Mr. Speaker, as a result, courts and legislatures have been granting those rights and responsibilities, including the right to spousal support, the right to equal division of property and the right to adopt individuals in same-sex relationships. The current definition of spouse in our Adoption Act and Family Law Act does not ensure those equal rights and responsibilities to individuals in same-sex relationships. In the current legal climate, this means that our legislation is open to a costly court challenge. The principle of equality under the law has guided the courts in their decisions and it is the responsibility of those of us entrusted with making the laws in the Northwest Territories to ensure that those laws conform to our Canadian Constitution. That is the primary purpose of these amendments.
Mr. Speaker, this is a legislative issue before the legislature of the Northwest Territories and it is incumbent upon us to ensure that our laws comply as I have just indicated. I would encourage that we move this bill along to the committee and deal with this as it should be. Thank you.