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April 16-May 14 Ottawa Bill C-150 […]
When
1969-04-16 – 1969-05-14
Description
April 16-May 14 Ottawa Bill C-150, the proposed amendment to the Criminal Code, was debated in the House of Commons. During the Commons debate, Justice Minister John Turner declared that Bill C-150 was not intended to condone, endorse, or encourage homosexuality and that "it doesn't even legalize this kind of conduct" but instead lifted "the taint or stigma of the law" from certain sexual acts committed by two consenting adults in private. Such behaviour, Turner concluded, was cause for psychiatric rather than legal intervention. During the debate numerous complaints were raised about the amendments concerning homosexuality, particularly from members of the Progressive Conservative and Créditiste parties. For example, Eldon Woolliams (PC-Calgary North) stated, "... I do not want to have this kind of debauchery in our nation," while Walter Dinsdale (PC-Brandon-Souris) declared, "We are bringing the morals and values of skid row into the salons and drawing rooms of the nation." Martial Asselin (PC-Charlevoix) believed that "Homosexuals are mostly inclined to pervert youngsters and the Minister opens the door even wider." The fourteen Créditiste MPS, led by Réal Caouette and all from Quebec, were the most critical of the changes introduced by the Bill — especially those relating to homosexuality and abortion — and suggested that communism, socialism, and atheism were behind the changes. André Fortin (Créd.-Lotbinière) declared that the amendments dealing with homosexuality "should be withdrawn pure and simple" while René Matte (Créd.-Champlain) said it was "almost scandalous to see representatives of the people being obliged to discuss these questions." The Créditistes demanded that a public referendum be held on these issues and staged a filibuster of Parliament over the amendments concerning abortion. (see also May 14 and August 26, 1969.)
