OTTAWA, September 18, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Svend Robinson’s Bill C-250, which passed by the comfortable margin of 145-110 in Parliament Wednesday, has already made its way into the Senate Thursday morning.
Opponents to C-250 were not able to maintain the momentum two days in a row of their near victory on Monday’s marriage motion.
Another reason for the margin of victory was likely due, says Gwen Landolt of REAL Women, to the fact that MPs were taken in by Svend Robinson’s skillful exploitation of Liberal MP Derek Lee’s amendment to C-250 which added protection for freedom of religion. The credibility of such protection has been ridiculed by opponents of the bill. They have also pointed out that, even if such protection were effective, Canadians would still unjustly be persecuted under C-250 for merely acting according to their consciences and for other than explicit religious reasons.
Pro-family leaders were astonished that the The National Association of Professional Police has strongly backed C-250. This has more than a few scratching their heads wondering how the association could possibly justify its support for a bill so threatening to free speech and freedom of religion. Landolt advised LifeSite that no other bills are currently under consideration by the Senate and so C-250 will likely advance to the committee stage within two to three days. Senator Ann Cools has promised to do everything in her power to stop the bill but her task is extremely difficult given the high percentage of Liberal appointees in the Senate. As well, the vote by PC leader Peter McKay in favour of C-250 makes it highly likely, says Landolt, that the 29 Progressive Conservative Senators will feel obliged to back the bill.
Still, pro-family groups are urging Canadians to immediately contact all Senators urging them to reject C-250. The Senate has been known a few times in the past to unexpectedly not give the rubber stamp that the government assumes it must give. The most militant supporters of the bill in the Senate are expected to be Senators Laurier L. LaPierre (an outspoken gay activist), Sharon Carstairs and Serge Joyal. Regardless of whether C-250 and a marriage redefinition bill both pass, the REAL Women leader says that “we will not accept them” as legitimate legislation because they will both have been “passed by manipulation and deceit and never in Canadian history of confederation have there ever been bills that have had such a rejection by the public.” Landlolt added, “law is only accepted by the consent of the people.” If passed, Landolt advised, C-250 is certain to be challenged in the courts. She says that “there are powerful reasons to strike it down” and that the entire hate section of the criminal code is on very shaky legal grounds. REAL Women is advising all pro-family groups and individuals to immediately request to appear before the Senate Committee as witnesses. The committee can be reached as follows:
Ms. Marcy Zlotnick, Committee Clerk
Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4
Tel: (613) 943-7865 See who voted for and against the bill https://www.parl.gc.ca/37/2/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/121_2003-09-17/han121_1845-E.htm#PT-20 See Complete list of Senators and telephone numbers at https://www.lifesitenews.com/clc/political_lists/canadian_senators.htm Mail may be sent postage-free to any Senator at the following address: The Senate of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4