Last Wednesday, Martin rose in support of a "Civil Marriage Act" to permit same-sex marriage. Contrast the actions south of the border, where we have enacted a "Defense of Marriage Act," to reject same-sex marriage.
Consider Martin's striking, principled rejection of a referendum on the issue:
The Charter was enshrined to ensure that the rights of minorities are not subjected, are never subjected, to the will of the majority. The rights of Canadians who belong to a minority group must always be protected by virtue of their status as citizens, regardless of their numbers. These rights must never be left vulnerable to the impulses of the majority.
We embrace freedom and equality in theory, Mr. Speaker. We must also embrace them in fact.