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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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 Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:24 pm Canadian PM Backs Gay Marriage |
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CNN.com
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Martin vows to pursue Canada gay marriage law
FREDERICTON, New Brunswick (Reuters) -- Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said Thursday that he would press ahead with legislation to permit same-sex marriage, but unhappy legislators in his Liberal Party predicted a long fight before it becomes law.
Dissident Liberals fear the issue could sink Martin's fragile minority government and the divisive issue looks set to dominate a new session of Parliament, which opens next week.
"Among the first pieces of legislation (introduced) will be the bill ... on the redefinition of marriage," Martin said.
"I am very confident that we will win the vote," he said at a news conference after a three-day meeting of Liberal legislators in the Atlantic province of New Brunswick.
Courts in seven of the 10 provinces and in one territory have ruled in favor of gay marriage, and Martin says a Canadawide law would prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians.
Some who oppose the plan, primarily the main opposition Conservative Party, have suggested gay marriage could one day lead to the legalization of polygamy.
Martin supporters said they were confident the legislation would be approved in Parliament by the time the summer session ends in June.
Under the Canadian system, once Parliament gives initial approval to a piece of legislation it must then be presented to a parliamentary committee for deeper examination.
The Liberals' minority status -- they hold just 133 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons -- means they do not control Parliament's Justice Committee, which will be charged with looking at the same-sex marriage bill.
Liberal legislator Paul Szabo, a firm opponent of gay marriage, said this meant the committee proceedings could last much longer than usual.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see [the committee stage] drag on 'till June," he told Reuters. That could push a vote on the bill back toward the end of the year.
The problem for Martin is that the longer the debate continues the more attention it will attract in the run-up to the next election, which is expected by the end of 2006. The Liberals won re-election in June, which technically gives them a mandate until 2009, but minority governments usually don't last much more than two years.
"The worst thing for us would be for this to be hanging over our heads 18 months from now as we look to go to the polls," a senior Martin aide told Reuters.
Martin has dismissed suggestions that gay marriage could derail his parliamentary agenda, which includes discussing the next budget and pressing ahead with plans on improving the environment and the health care system.
"We have a very ambitious agenda and we will fulfill it," he told reporters.
Backbench Liberals at the meeting said debate on the gay marriage issue had been low-key and polite.
"Everyone made their minds up a long time ago," Szabo said.
Copyright 2005 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Last edited by Puck on Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:45 pm; edited 1 time in total
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MJ
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Posts: 266
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| Sat Jan 29, 2005 4:43 am |
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Awesome.
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q2fan
Lieutenant
Joined: 29 May 2004
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Location: The Q Continumum along side Q2
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