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Canadian Conservative MP Introduces Bill on Definition of Marriage

OTTAWA, November 8, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On Friday, Rob Moore, Conservative MP for Fundy-Royal, introduced Private Member's Bill C-268, that will allow Parliamentarians the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage. The Bill defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman and specifies that this definition does not affect the freedom of officials of religious groups to perform ceremonies or to refuse to perform ceremonies that are not in accordance with their religious beliefs.

"The purpose of C-268 is to reinforce our Party's position that the issue of defining marriage should be decided in Parliament by Canadians' elected representatives, rather than in the courts," said Moore.

Moore noted that Parliament has voted on the definition of marriage twice in the past five years. "In 1999, Paul Martin and many of his current cabinet ministers supported a motion that defined marriage as a "union of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others," which passed 216 to 55. In 2003, Martin and many of those same cabinet ministers voted against another motion with exactly the same wording, causing it to be defeated 137-132," he said.

In press releases from various Conservative members, the Party has made clear that it is seeking a vote in the House of Commons on the issue, rather than a new definition dictated by the courts.

Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott slammed the decision of the Saskatchewan judge who redefined marriage in the province last week. "It is unfortunate that the Saskatchewan court has followed in the activist footsteps of other courts in this country," said Vellacott. "Madam Justice Donna Wilson should have postponed a decision or ruled in favour of the current law until the government's marriage definition legislation had been debated in the Parliament of Canada."

Vellacott said democracy demands this issue be brought to a vote by public representatives. "The Liberal government's obligation to democracy and the Canadian public is to bring the issue for a debate and vote in Parliament, which is really the highest court of the land," said Vellacott. "The Conservative Party is absolutely committed to bringing the definition of marriage debate before Parliament," he added, stressing his commitment to vigorously defend the current, constitutionally sound definition.

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