there has been a lot of controversy over bill c-10, an act to amend the income tax act. now before the senate, this legislation proposes to deny the film production income tax credit for films that run contrary to public policy, such as those that are pornographic, excessively violent or denigrate a specific group of people.

Motivated by media commentary suggesting Canada is on a slippery slope, headed for George Orwell's 1984, opposition parties have pontificated that Bill C-10 is our Conservative government's tool to impose censorship on Canadian film and culture.

Give me a break!

To be clear, film producers are NOT being stopped from making films of questionable appeal. Bill C-10 would simply ensure they don't get a tax break on the backs of Canadians when they do.

As an example, you may recall that tax dollars were used to finance tax credits for films like the 2007 Canadian production, Young People F---ing!

When Niagara West-Glanbrook residents heard about this, you can imagine the irate phone calls and e-mails to my office.

I have also heard from veteran MPs about the flood of angry constituent phone calls and letters in 1998, when Canadians learned they had subsidized the movie Bubbles Galore, a porn flick starring an American X-rated porn star.

The Government of Canada should not engage in censorship, even when a Canadian-made film exceeds individual comfort levels of sex or gratuitous violence. However that doesn't mean hard-working taxpayers have to foot the bill for the film's production.

That's why Bill C-10 was created and why I supported it when it passed through the House of Commons five months ago. What is important to note: Bill C-10 passed unanimously in the House on Oct. 29, 2007.

In a display of partisan hypocrisy, opposition MPs have now taken a sudden dislike to Bill C-10.

Even more interesting, this is the second time the legislation received unanimous sanction by MPs. In the previous parliamentary session, the legislation was passed as Bill C-33, following extensive review before the opposition-controlled House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. It was a thorough examination with dozens of amendments proposed, some which passed and the bill was sent back to the House amended on June 13. The legislation passed report stage and third reading unanimously on June 15, 2007.

With regard to the current incarnation of this finance legislation, Bill C-10, I am confident the overwhelming majority of Niagara West-Glanbrook residents support its legislative intent and I urge the Liberal-dominated, unelected Senate to respect the will of the House and pass this legislation as soon as possible.