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OTTAWA, June 7, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Social conservatives and libertarians opposed to the passage of Bill C-250, which added ‘sexual orientation” to Canada’s hate crime law, were handed a challenge yesterday by Conservative House Leader John Reynolds.  While attempting to squirm away from the issue of homosexuality, Reynolds suggested the repeal of Bill C-250 was not being considered as a priority for a Conservative Government.  “I’m the House leader, and I’ve seen no line-up of letters in my office asking us to repeal that law,” said Reynolds.  The challenge will not go unanswered.  Rev. Royal Hamel, a frequent speaker on the dangers of homosexual hate crime Bill C-250 told LifeSiteNews.com today that “in the history of Canada no other issue has received more emails calls faxes and emails than this issue.”  Rev. Hamel added, “It’s astonishing therefore to hear him say that he’s not heard from those interested in repealing it.”

Although the legislation passed under the current Liberal government, the issue is by no means dead.  In fact, a meeting called “Scrap Bill C-250 Campaign” will take place tomorrow in Alberta.  Pro-family leaders such as Ted Byfield, Rev. Tristan Emmanuel, and Professor Ted Morton, will address the meeting, as will two Conservative MPs, Rob Anders and Myron Thompson.

When Reynolds was attempting to duck the issue, Liberal spin masters and the Canadian media were attempting to condemn comments on Bill C-250 by Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant.  Gallant said she believed the Conservative “caucus as a whole would like to see it repealed.”  Reports focused in on one objection Gallant made to the legislation.  Gallant noted the danger of having the undefined term “sexual orientation” in the legislation saying, “The danger in having sexual orientation just listed – that encompasses, for example, pedophiles.”  The Conservative Party’s attempt to bury the issue is perplexing to many supporters given that 60 of the 61 Alliance members at the time of the Sept. 17, 2003 passage of C-250 voted against it. The other party to the recent merger, the Progressive Conservative Party, had 7 members vote against and 7 vote for the bill, with one more absent. The two PC MPs who most strongly agreed with the Liberal/NDP sponsored bill, Joe Clark and Scott Brison, both rejected the merger of the parties, with Brison joining the Liberals and Clark retiring from politics. With their combined votes overwhelmingly against the bill some observers say that it would be expected the CPC would revisit the C-250 change which they strenuously opposed as a danger to free speech and freedom of religion.  Rev. Hamel concluded, “I think its imperative that Canadians stand up and speak once again to let our politicians know we will not stand for being muzzled in this democratic country.”  To express concerns on C-250 to the Conservative House Leader:  Email: [email protected]

Official Opposition House Leader House of Commons Room 442-N, Centre Block Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 (613) 995-7226 Tel.  (613) 943-0485 Fx.