Henry Zoe

Just for clarity for the Members, it gives us an opportunity to…The way it reads now, it will come into force as soon as we give it assent in this House. So what this amendment does is to delay it to a day certain. Day certain meaning either the first session of the 38th Parliament when they prorogue, or when the Civil Marriage Act comes into force. So whatever happens with the Civil Marriage Act, if it dies or gets passed, our legislation will continue to come into force at either of those two times. This is what the motion is saying. It will give more comfort to most of us on this side of...

Madam Chair, I would like to withdraw that motion and I would like to move another one.

…and now this thing comes up and the government puts this as high priority. We know what’s happening in Ottawa. Why couldn’t they wait until that issue was dealt with? Specifically to this clause, Mr. Chairman, they’re mixing apples and oranges here.

---Laughter

You know? Not oranges to oranges, but apples to oranges. On one hand what they’re doing, it’s not a laughing matter. What they’re doing is for the unmarried common-law couples for the benefits, as the Minister indicated, in some of our laws that we have in place the benefits for common-law couples they don’t receive now because of the...

I have no further questions on clause 1.

Could I ask the Minister under this section the amendment that is being proposed here, for the Conflict of Interest Act I guess, the definition of spouse. It says under (7), under that section under (b), "a person who has been living together with the member in a conjugal relationship outside marriage for a period of less than two years." Does it mean they have to be together less than two years or more than two years before this amendment applies to them? Maybe I can ask the Law Clerk for either one of them, I guess.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I ask the Minister how soon can I have word back from his office pertaining to this issue? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If that’s the case, as the Minister indicated that they are working on a transitional plan in regard to land issues, then my constituents shouldn’t be having any problems obtaining Crown land leases in the Tlicho communities or even land reserved for Indians for housing, which is Crown land. So even the Indian Affairs department that deals with land leases should be continuing to use the same process as we have before. Is that the case that the Minister is indicating to me? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Chair, I can’t see why other Members can’t support this type of motion that we’re putting forward. It doesn’t take away from the intent of the bill. If this motion gets passed, I’m sure the bill will get passed and coming into force is on either of these two dates that are there. So no matter what happens, the bill is going to come, but it will be on the later date. This motion, if passed, also gives comfort to Members on this side of the House that haven’t had an opportunity to explain to their constituents as to why this bill is being passed. So an explanation can be...

I move that the following be added after section 10 of Bill 17:

Commencement

11. This Act comes into force on the earlier of:

a) the day the First Session of the 38th Parliament of Canada is prorogued; and

b) the day the Civil Marriage Act (Canada) comes into force.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mahsi. (English not provided) Mahsi.

---Applause