OTTAWA, June 28, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Prime Minister Paul Martin has ordered his cabinet ministers to vote in favour of the pending same-sex ‘marriage’ legislation causing one cabinet minister to put his foot down. Joe Comuzzi, the Minister of state for economic development in northern Ontario, has resigned his cabinet position rather than vote in favour of changing the legal definition of marriage to include homosexual partners.
On Monday, Comuzzi told reporters that he was waiting to make a decision pending “important amendments clarifying protections for religious and civic officials who cannot, for reasons of conscience, marry same-sex couples have been proposed.”
“Consistent with my previous vote, I intend to support a full and vigorous debate on this legislation,” he said.
Debate, however, was voted to end today and a vote on the bill is expected shortly. Comuzzi told Prime Minister Martin of his decision to resign today, indicating that there will be few effective protections for Canadians who have conscientious objections to legalizing homosexual ‘marriage.’
The bill is expected to pass comfortably with the help of the Bloc Quebecois even though about 30 Liberal MP’s are against it.
HW