Canadian Parliament Rejects Theory of Evolution?

 
The Canadian Press is reporting that the House of Common rejected a motion to recognize Darwin's theory of evolution as the only scientific explanation for the origin of the human species [Ottawa rejects motion to favour Darwin theory over other scientific explanations].

Here's what happened. Yesterday, Pierre Paquette, the Bloc Québécois member for Joliette, rose in the House to make the following request as recorded in Hansard.

Mr. Speaker, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to adopt the following motion: That the House acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, which launched the theory of evolution, the only proven and recognized scientific explanation for the origin of man. I believe you will find unanimous consent for adoption of this motion.

Some honourable members shouted "yes" and some shouted "no." The speaker ruled that there was no unanimous consent.

According to the Canadian Press report, most of the naysayers were on the Conservative benches and most MP's answered "yes."

I'm a little bit uneasy about the scientific accuracy of the statement but that's not my main objection. My main objection is that the House of Commons should not be voting on motions concerning the accuracy of scientific theories. That's none of their business.

The motion should have read ...

That the House acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species."

That motion would have stood a much better chance of getting unanimous consent.

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