I rise today in support of Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act. I rise in support of a Canada in which liberties are safeguarded, rights are protected and the people of this land are treated as equals under the law.

The fact is the statements are perfectly consistent, but more importantly, I don't have all the facts.

Put simply, we must always remember that separate but equal is not equal.

At a moment that comes rarely in the life of a country. It is a time when destiny is ours to hold.

In Canada, women's rights are a vital part of our effort to build a society of real equality - not just for some, but for all Canadians. A society in which women no longer encounter discrimination nor are shut out from opportunities open to others

If we do not step forward, then we step back. If we do not protect a right, then we deny it.

As a people, we know what we can do, we know how to do it, and we just want to get on with it. How? By ensuring that Canada's place in the world is one of influence and pride.