Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments and the question from my colleague from Delta.
First, I believe that all hon. members, certainly including my colleague the Minister of Justice, are weighing the issue very
carefully and that a free vote will be in their best judgment and following their conscience. I am certainly doing that and I believe all other members are doing the same.
My colleague from Delta has raised a very good point. Indeed in the minister's speech the words "where numbers warrant" as he has quoted are in there. I am not sure whether the justice minister was operating under the belief that was the intent, but it certainly does go along with the statement distributed by the Government of Newfoundland before the referendum in a householder sent to all the people of Newfoundland which had the exact same phrase "where numbers warrant".
My hon. colleagues from Delta and for St. Boniface, in citing the Newfoundland flyer, have raised very good arguments for supporting this amendment. I believe there should be no fear in supporting the inclusion of "where numbers warrant" in this motion.