Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, on this issue it has been one that has been talked about quite a bit since it was introduced. I know that I was expecting a lot more input from constituents and from residents over the last while, but I must say, Mr. Chairman, there were very few people who approached me on this topic. I had four people who approached me. Three of them were constituents of mine and all of them encouraged me to vote against this.

I had one person who approached me on this issue who was not a constituent of mine who figured I should vote for it, but more on how it pertains to the law and the refrain was I was not here to represent my own views, that I had to represent the views of the public. If I had to do that, strictly on the numbers of people or constituents who approached me on it, I would have to vote against it.

I have to say, due to the public input, I would vote against it. That is not the only reason, Mr. Chairman, that I would vote against this bill. I am very disappointed, I guess, that the committee is not taking this to the people to hear concerns in the communities. I think this is an issue that is of far, far greater importance than some of the things we have gone to residents with before, as far as getting public consultation.

In this House, we are very quick to talk about things that have been handed down from generation to generation, whether it is beliefs, whether it is morals. I must say, for myself, if I had to look back on my generation and say, how would they have voted on this type of an issue if they had to make laws and regulations that are going to guide the people that we represent, how would they have voted on this issue?

I come from a very large family and they all have families. I know if I took a poll from them, I know how it would go. I think that each one of us has to ask ourselves that question. If we look at it from a moral issue, how would we vote on this if we were to represent the moral values that our generations have handed down to us and what we are supposed to believe in and what we are supposed to view as a good society to raise kids and family in?

I think that there is a way of doing this -- I am aware of court rulings that have taken place across the country and I do not doubt that if we were to vote this down today and a court case was made of it, that some judge somewhere would vote that that is the law and that is right. I do not think that every time a judge voices an opinion and makes a law in this country that it is totally the right decision either. There is an old saying that says, if you are in a group and everyone jumps off a high-rise, it does not mean you have to jump off as well.

I have no hesitation to say, whether it is right or wrong lawfully, I think it is not morally the right thing to do and they are not the principles that I stand for. For that reason, Mr. Chairman, I will not be supporting this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

-- Applause