Politics
Wednesday May 10, 2006
See today's LifeSiteNews stories
Stalling Tactics Kill Alberta Private Bill Protecting Opposition to Homosexual Activity
By Gudrun Schultz
EDMONTON, Alberta, May 10, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A bill protecting the freedom of Albertans to opt out of teaching homosexual material or performing same-sex marriages ran out of time on Monday, as opposition members used stalling tactics to ensure the bill did not have a chance to pass.
A private members bill, the Protection of Fundamental Freedoms (Marriage) Statutes Amendment Act offered protection to those who oppose homosexual activity. The bill would have amended the Human Rights, citizenship and Multiculturalism Act by forbidding sanctions against Albertans who express their freedom of conscience and religion by supporting or opposing same-sex marriage.
“It’s a sad day for democracy when the Liberals and ND’s won’t allow a debate on an issue this important,” the bill’s sponsor, Ted Morton, told the Canadian Press.
Although Mr. Morton had earlier criticized Premier Ralph Klein for failing to advocate for Bill 208, the premier spoke out in favour of the bill on Monday, saying it stemmed from existing government policy.
“I don’t want to be perceived as a gay-basher, because I’m not,” said Klein. “But I want to protect those who, on moral and religious grounds, don’t want to marry a gay couple.”
Mr. Morton said he intends to revisit the bill during the coming leadership contest for Alberta’s Conservatives.
“I’m predicting that Bill 208 will be back as a government bill next February,” he said. “I know I have the support of about three-quarters of caucus plus the premier.”
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Alberta MLA Proposes Protection of Fundamental Freedoms Act
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/apr/06041304.html
Alberta Bill on Same-Sex Marriage Likely to be Watered Down in Tory Caucus
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06050403.html
Back to TopSHARE THIS STORY: E-mail Print Newsvine Digg Reddit Del.icio.us Facebook
Latest Headlines
- Toronto Archbishop Decries Morgentaler Order of Canada - Sets Sunday as Day of Prayer Against Abortion
- Shock: Connecticut Supreme Court Strikes Down State Ban on Same-sex "Marriage"
- Boycott Successful: McDonald's Abandons Homosexual Activism
- Pro-life Efforts Redouble as U.K. Embryo Bill Goes Back to House of Commons
- Host Desecration Videos Back on YouTube
- Mark Steyn "Not Guilty" of "Islamophobia": Human Rights Commission
- Brampton Catholic High School To Host Pro-abort Liberal Leader Stephane Dion
- Exclusive Interview with "Fireproof" Co-Star Erin Bethea
- Oregon Court Orders Frozen Embryos Destroyed, Considered "Property Rights" Issue
- Canadian Archdiocese Advertising Fundraiser for Anti-Catholic Abortion/Condom Promoter
- Barbara Kay - Poland's "preemie miracle" is an embarrassing postscript to Henry Morgentaler's Order of Canada
- Attempts to Impose Legal Abortion on Northern Ireland will Trigger Constitutional Crisis say MLAs
- Heartland Church Apologizes: Says Heartland is "Unequivocally Pro-Life," Affirms Lifechain
Most Read this Week
- Canadian Artist and Catholic Novelist Michael O'Brien on Modesty in the Culture of Shamelessness
- Amazing Stories Come out of 2008 Life Chain
- Video Catches Planned Parenthood Covering Up Statutory Rape
- Heartland Christian Church Demands Peaceful Pro-Life LifeChain Participants Leave
- Franciscan University Board Member Backs Obama, School Distances Itself
- The Palin-Biden Debate and Where Things Stand Now
- Mandatory Homosexual Indoctrination in Grade School Survives after Supreme Court Turns Down Case
- The Silver Lining of an Obama Victory
- Harper Would Have to Personally Kill an Unborn Baby to Avoid the Hidden Agenda Charge
- Pro-life Hero Linda Gibbons Arrested Again, Only Days after Acquittal
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.