November 30, 1995
LIBERALS GIVE SPOUSAL BENEFITS TO SAME-SEX COUPLES DEFYING MAJORITY VOTE IN HOUSE
"Homosexual and lesbian partners are not legally married and do not deserve spousal benefits."
Ottawa - Today, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, gave the following Member's Statement in the House of Commons:
"The Liberal Cabinet is giving rights to same-sex couples that Members of this House have not approved and the public do not support. I rise today to condemn a Liberal Treasury Board directive, leaked last week, which extends a number of spousal benefits to homosexual and lesbian partners who are not formally recognized as being legally married.
During the debate and a free vote on Motion 264 in this House last September Members refused to grant "legal recognition" of same-sex partners, defeating the motion decisively. Treasury Board officials have defied the will of the Members of this House by giving homosexual and lesbian couples the same rights as a legally married man and woman.
On behalf of the majority of my constituents, the majority of Canadians and the majority of Members in this House, I demand that the Liberal Government bring any extension of government benefits to same-sex relationships to this House for a free vote."
"Even Liberal backbenchers are complaining to the media that the Justice Minister is on a collision course with public opinion over plans to formally recognize homosexual rights. Liberal backbenchers couldn't vote freely on Bill C-68 or Bill C-41. When will the Liberals make good on the Red Book promise to allow more free votes in the House of Commons?" asked Breitkreuz. "All MPs deserve the opportunity to represent their constituent's wishes not just the constituent's of Reform MPs."
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