Government motion on same-sex marriage is defeated (Canada)

[Canadian Socialist]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/12/07/vote-samesex.html

A motion to reopen the same-sex marriage debate was easily defeated in Parliament on Thursday, as expected.

MPs voted 175-123 against the controversial motion tabled by the ruling Conservatives.

The motion had asked the government to introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages.

Thank Gord! To bad it wasn't a confidence vote. FYI, it was a ridiculous motion anyway - there is no such thing as a civil union in Canada. It's marriage or nothing.

more at link.

[ThomCat]

1. Woo Hoo!

Canada has more sanity in their government than we do. Let's hope they kick out their reich wing too!

[Canadian Socialist]

2. Looks like there will be a spring election

Now that the Liberals have a new leader. Hopefully, Harper will ungag his cabal... er... cabinet, and the real wingnuts will start sprouting their bigotted bullshit. Enough to show Canadians what they're really like.

[Ian David]

3. This will make God very angry! And to prove it, he's going to start making it COLD outside! n/t

[Lisa]

4. and make it rain in BC (one of the first provinces to okay same-sex marriage)

Take no notice of the Pacific Ocean! The clouds are caused by gay weddings!

[BR_Parkway]

11. Unless he makes some days warm, cause he moves in mysterious ways

you know

[transeo]

5. OMG, we're gonna lose the 2008 election!

Panic, everyone! :sarcasm:

[Canadian Socialist]

6. I'm not sure I understand?

[transeo]

8. Sarcasm, as noted in the post

Every time gay marriage comes up on this board, a few people freak out about how we're going to lose the next election and gays should just wait for their equal rights. Of course, we get through another election cycle, and are told to wait again, and again and again and are told over and over that every decision in our favor anywhere is going to cost dems the election and it just isn't the "right time". I do realize this thread is about Canadian marriage rights, not the U.S., hence the sarcastic comment.

[Canadian Socialist]

9. Ahhh! Gotcha...

I saw the sarcasm tag, but couldn't figure out what that had to do with Canadian elections. heeee. Why, yes, please, I will have another beer.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Gay marriage rights are protected by the Charter

They can re-open anything they like or change the law to prevent gay marriage, but the law would be ruled in breach of the Charter by the Supreme Court. Without fail.

This was only a symbolic vote.

[TaleWgnDg]

10. (Jurist News) Canada lawmkrs vote down revisiting same-sex marriage

Canada lawmakers vote down revisiting same-sex marriage
JURIST NEWS, Gabriel Haboubi at 7:20 PM ET, Thursday, December 7, 2006

Canada’s House of Commons (official website) voted 175 to 123 Thursday (December 7, 2006) against reopening debate on same-sex marriage (JURIST news archive). The result effectively upheld Canada’s 2005 law allowing equal marriage rights for same-sex couples (text; JURIST report), passed under the leadership of former Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin. Canadian Conservative Party (official website) Prime Minister Stephen Harper (official website) promised repeatedly since coming to power early this year that the measure would be "revisited” (JURIST report), a promise that was fulfilled in a lengthy parliamentary debate Wednesday before Thursday’s vote.

The "free vote," meaning that members of parliament, including cabinet ministers, were not forced to vote along party lines, appears to have ended practical debate in Canada over same-sex marriage. Harper later told reporters that there is no plan to reopen the question, even if the conservatives won a majority government in the next election. The motion to reopen debate seemed unlikely to pass even before the vote, as projections showed that most Canadian federal lawmakers support same-sex marriage (tracking website). A January 2006 poll (text, PDF format) by Environics Research Group showed that 66 percent of those surveyed were against debate over same-sex marriage being brought back to Parliament. Some ministers who voted against the 2005 law (which passed 158-133) voted this time against reopening debate, calling the matter settled. When the federal law passed in 2005, Canada became the fourth country after the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium to recognize same-sex marriage. A fifth country, South Africa, legalized such unions (JURIST report) last month. Reuters has more. CBC News has local coverage.

. . . more at . . . http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2006/12/canada-lawmakers-vote-down-revisiting.php

.