The Honorable Martin Cauchon, former Justice Minister and Attorney-General of Canada, called for a redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples during a speech Wednesday afternoon in Old North.
He also spoke in favor of decriminalizing marijuana use and said that Canadians currently receive a mixed message from their government on the issue.
Cauchon cited the Canadian Charter’s call for equality as a reason to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. He said that civil unions, as opposed to marriage, are a way of further alienating the gay and lesbian community.
“It is sending a message that they are part of our society but not part of the institution of marriage,” Cauchon said. “This is discrimination. I strongly believe that the concept of `separate but equal’ has no place in our society.”
Instead, Cauchon called for a society where “people are able to be who they are.” Currently, there are six Canadian provinces and one territory that permit same sex marriages.
Cauchon also said the Canadian Supreme Court could redefine marriage with a ruling on the issue that is expected sometime next week.
Cauchon praised U.S. President George W. Bush for not commenting on the issue of same-sex marriages in the Canadian courts, saying his restraint has been helpful in preserving the good feelings between the two countries. Bush visited Canada this week on a state visit aimed at repairing relations between the two neighbors.
Cauchon, an advocate for the decriminalization of cannabis that reduces the penalty to a fine instead of a criminal record, said the government is sending Canadians conflicting signals concerning the issue. The trafficking and growing of marijuana receives some attention, Cauchon said, but there are not strict penalties for the possession of cannabis. He said that people found in possession of the drug are often just given a warning.
Cauchon said this sends the contradictory messages that it is okay to smoke marijuana but it is illegal to grow or sell it.
“When you have a piece of legislation you cannot enforce properly it is bad legislation so you change it,” Cauchon said.
Cauchon said that if cannabis is decriminalized people could produce it legally, sell it legally and the government could impose taxes on it. Cauchon said that growing and trafficking of marijuana is currently directed by organized crime groups.
While cannabis is not legal anywhere in Canada, Cauchon noted that marijuana is available for those with medical needs.
This event was sponsored by the Lecture Fund and the School of Foreign Service.
