Homosexual Hate Crimes Bill Final Debate Held, Vote Set For June 18

OTTAWA, June 12, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Members of Parliament went through the final hour of debate on homosexual hate crimes Bill C-250 yesterday.  As LifeSite reported earlier, the date for the final vote has been deferred to June 18.  However, the NDP are attempting to set the vote sooner.  The NDP, the Party of C-250 sponsor Svend Robinson, is using the Liberal government’s desire to recess the House this week instead of next to ask for an early vote on the bill. Since unanimous Party consent is required for the House to recess prior to the June 20 final date, the NDP has stipulated that it will only agree to recess early if the House votes on bill C-250.  During the debate NDP MP Pat Martin spoke in favour of the bill indicating that it would criminalize speech considered to be hate propaganda against people who identify themselves as homosexual.  “Bill C-250 seeks to amend the Criminal Code to include sexual orientation under the categories of hate propaganda. I think it is useful to examine what we mean by hate propaganda. One legal definition states: Hate propaganda, as an exercise of expression, seeks to incite and encourage hatred and tension between different social and cultural groups in society,” said Martin.  The final hour of debate from the Hansard is online at:  https://www.parl.gc.ca/37/2/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/116_2003-06-11/HAN116-E.htm#Int-605245   See related LifeSite coverage:  Heated Debate Over Bill adding ‘Sexual Orientation’ To Canadian Hate Crimes Law https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jun/03060601.html   See Focus on the Family Canada Church Bulletin insert on the Bill https://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/takeaction/Bulletin_Insert_Marriage_and_C250.pdf See the Canada Family Action Coalition on C-250 https://www.familyaction.org/