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(Montreal, Quebec) The Canadian government will
introduce a motion to re-open the issue of same-sex marriage the week of
September 25 a Montreal newspaper reported on Wednesday.
The French language La Presse reports that the
motion will be presented shortly after Parliament resumes sitting and quoting
party sources the paper says that the Conservative government of Prime Minister
Stephen Harper expects to lose the vote.
"Our first option would be not to have a
vote, but given it's a government commitment we're pleased it's happening sooner
rather than later," Gilles Marchildon of LGBT rights group Egale Canada
told 365Gay.com.
The former Liberal government legalized same-sex
marriage last year after courts in most provinces struck down a federal law
limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. (story)
The Conservatives came to power in January (story)
forming a minority government. During the campaign Harper said that if he
were elected he would reopen the issue of gay marriage. The pledge played
well with the party's Western base but not in Ontario and Quebec. The two
provinces hold almost half the seats in the House of Commons and voters were
wary of what they saw as extremist views.
If Harper is to ever form a majority government
he must carry the two provinces which traditionally support the Liberals. In
January, voters in Ontario and Quebec deserted the Liberals over high profile
scandals but rather than go to the Conservatives voters cast their ballots for the
two smaller parties - the New Democrats in Ontario and the Bloc Quebecois in
Quebec.
With a minority government that could fall at any
time Harper needs to get the marriage issue out of the way quickly. The timing
of holding the vote this month is fuelling speculation the Tories are preparing
for a winter election.
Since Harper joined US president George Bush's
war on terrorism in the spring, sending troops to fight in Afghanistan, the
number of Canadian soldiers killed in action has steadily climbed and Harper's
public approval ratings have steadily fallen.
Former Liberal leader Paul Martin resigned as
leader of the party following the election defeat in January and the party will
hold a convention in December to select a new leader. Even without a leader the
Liberals are virtually tied with Conservatives in the polls.
The war and the leaderless liberals, say many
political pundits, could spur the Tories to call a snap election - possibly
before Christmas - and the timing of the marriage measure has added to the
speculation.
The motion to be presented by the Conservatives
would not overturn the existing law but seek approval from Parliament to hold a
new vote on same-sex marriage at a later date.
Earlier this week 365Gay.com reported that both
the Bloc Quebecois and the New Democrats have pledged to vote in a block against
the motion. All but about 30 of the Liberals also have said they would
vote against the measure. At least 11 Tory members have voiced their
opposition to revisiting the issue. That would assure the measure would die.
©365Gay.com 2006
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