Politics
Tuesday December 5, 2006
Prime Minister Harper Goes on the Offensive on Same-Sex “Marriage” Free Vote
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By Gudrun Schultz
OTTAWA, Canada, December 5, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper directed an open challenge to new opposition leader Stephane Dion yesterday, questioning if Dion would refuse to allow his cabinet a free vote on re-opening the marriage debate, which may take place as early as Thursday.
“In the last election we promised Canadians a genuinely free vote on the issue in the House of Commons” PM Harper said in the House yesterday. “My party, including the cabinet of my party, will vote freely on this issue.
“I know that the new Leader of the Opposition has said he will not allow a free vote by his caucus members. I hope that proves not to be the case because I think the rights of members of Parliament are some of the most important rights we have in this country.”
Dion, who supports homosexual marriage, said Monday that he would like the entire Liberal caucus to vote against the motion but would not confirm whether or not Liberal MPs would be forced to vote in keeping with Party policy, CanWest News reported earlier today.
“I will discuss the kind of vote it will be with the caucus but I have been clear many times,” Dion said. “To me, it’s a matter of respect of the Charter of Rights.”
Liberal MP John McKay said it would be “unwise” for Dion to force a Party vote on the issue, in an interview with CTV’s Mike Duffy Monday.
“The grievance of those who support the traditional definition of marriage is the previous two governments have whipped their cabinet, which means the vote in the House has been something less than entirely free,” McKay said.
Debate on the issue is scheduled to begin Wednesday and will likely be limited to a few hours of discussion before going to a vote the following day.
The Government will introduce a motion “to call on government to introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages.”
See related LifeSiteNews coverage:
BREAKING - Conservative Party Marriage Motion Wording Revealed
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/dec/06120104.html
Leadership Front-Runners Vow to Force All Liberals to Vote Against Restoring Traditional Marriage
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/dec/06120106.html
Parliamentary Debate on Re-Consideration of Homosexual ‘Marriage’ to Commence Dec. 6; Vote Before Christmas
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/nov/06112902.html
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