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Same-sex law tabled
Adoption rights next fight: MP
OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government's contentious gay marriage bill has begun what's sure to be a very bumpy ride through the House of Commons.
Justice Minister Irwin Cotler introduced the bill Tuesday amid loud praise and withering criticism. The NDP, the Bloc Quebecois and most Liberals support same-sex marriage, which is already permitted in several provinces. But most Conservatives and some Liberals promise to oppose the bill in an effort to protect the traditional definition of marriage.
Prime Minister Paul Martin defended the bill Tuesday, trumpeting that "Canada is a country where minorities are protected."
But he also recognized concerns about religious rights, repeating that no church will be forced to perform gay marriages.
"There is no compromise when it comes to freedom of religion," Martin said.
Cotler said he knows that many Canadians are "struggling" with this issue, but added the courts have spoken and now it's up to Parliament to do what's right.
"It was the people of Canada, including minorities and gays and lesbians among them, who sought remedy and redress from the courts in invoking the charter.
"I trust that this last stage of this constitutional drama . . . will be conducted with respect for the plurality of views and the plurality of perspectives."
NDP Leader Jack Layton said any member of his caucus who votes against the same-sex marriage bill will face unspecified consequences.
"If we oppose human rights for lesbians and gays, there should be consequences in caucus and that will be the case in our caucus," he said at a news conference in Montreal to announce the hiring of former leadership candidate Pierre Ducasse as an advisor on Quebec.
The government wasted no time introducing the hot-button issue - it comes on the second day of the spring parliamentary session and in the face of increasingly organized campaign from Canadian pulpits to kill the bill.
Roman Catholic church groups have joined forces with Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Orthodox Jewish groups to defeat the legislation. Their alliance represents the strongest and best organized political effort by Canadian religious institutions in decades.
Catholics were urged last weekend to write their MPs on the issue.
Not all churches oppose the legislation. The United Church of Canada stands solidly with the bill.
"Marriage will be enhanced, not diminished, religious freedom will be protected, not threatened, and Canadian society will be strengthened, not weakened, as a result of this legislation," said Rev. Jim Sinclair, general secretary of the United Church's General Council.
In the last four years the issue has entangled politicians, prelates and judges from across the country, including the justices of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Judges in several provinces and one territory cleared the way for the bill with an unbroken string of decisions saying same-sex marriage is legal.
Some politicians and church leaders remain unsure. Some religious politicians, including Martin and several members of his cabinet, have agonized over the issue.
Martin, a Catholic, has told his cabinet ministers to support the bill. Backbench MPs have been left free to chose yea or nay. A number of Liberals say they will vote nay.
NDP Leader Jack Layton ordered his members to support the legislation, saying a human rights issue is no place for a free vote. However, Manitoba New Democrat Bev Desjarlais says she'll vote No anyway.
The Bloc is generally solid in its support for the bill.
The Conservatives have supporters on both sides of the issue, although leader Stephen Harper has urged amendments to the bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples, while preserving the traditional definition of marriage.
The Liberal legislation has been hanging fire since the summer of 2003, when the government of then-prime minister Jean Chretien sent it to the Supreme Court for a review. The Martin government expanded the scope of the reference a year ago.
The high court ruled in December that same sex marriages are constitutional, following more than two years of favourable lower court rulings that produced hundreds of same-sex marriages across Canada.
Adoption rights next fight: MP
OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government's contentious gay marriage bill has begun what's sure to be a very bumpy ride through the House of Commons.
Justice Minister Irwin Cotler introduced the bill Tuesday amid loud praise and withering criticism. The NDP, the Bloc Quebecois and most Liberals support same-sex marriage, which is already permitted in several provinces. But most Conservatives and some Liberals promise to oppose the bill in an effort to protect the traditional definition of marriage.
Prime Minister Paul Martin defended the bill Tuesday, trumpeting that "Canada is a country where minorities are protected."
But he also recognized concerns about religious rights, repeating that no church will be forced to perform gay marriages.
"There is no compromise when it comes to freedom of religion," Martin said.
Cotler said he knows that many Canadians are "struggling" with this issue, but added the courts have spoken and now it's up to Parliament to do what's right.
"It was the people of Canada, including minorities and gays and lesbians among them, who sought remedy and redress from the courts in invoking the charter.
"I trust that this last stage of this constitutional drama . . . will be conducted with respect for the plurality of views and the plurality of perspectives."
NDP Leader Jack Layton said any member of his caucus who votes against the same-sex marriage bill will face unspecified consequences.
"If we oppose human rights for lesbians and gays, there should be consequences in caucus and that will be the case in our caucus," he said at a news conference in Montreal to announce the hiring of former leadership candidate Pierre Ducasse as an advisor on Quebec.
The government wasted no time introducing the hot-button issue - it comes on the second day of the spring parliamentary session and in the face of increasingly organized campaign from Canadian pulpits to kill the bill.
Roman Catholic church groups have joined forces with Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Orthodox Jewish groups to defeat the legislation. Their alliance represents the strongest and best organized political effort by Canadian religious institutions in decades.
Catholics were urged last weekend to write their MPs on the issue.
Not all churches oppose the legislation. The United Church of Canada stands solidly with the bill.
"Marriage will be enhanced, not diminished, religious freedom will be protected, not threatened, and Canadian society will be strengthened, not weakened, as a result of this legislation," said Rev. Jim Sinclair, general secretary of the United Church's General Council.
In the last four years the issue has entangled politicians, prelates and judges from across the country, including the justices of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Judges in several provinces and one territory cleared the way for the bill with an unbroken string of decisions saying same-sex marriage is legal.
Some politicians and church leaders remain unsure. Some religious politicians, including Martin and several members of his cabinet, have agonized over the issue.
Martin, a Catholic, has told his cabinet ministers to support the bill. Backbench MPs have been left free to chose yea or nay. A number of Liberals say they will vote nay.
NDP Leader Jack Layton ordered his members to support the legislation, saying a human rights issue is no place for a free vote. However, Manitoba New Democrat Bev Desjarlais says she'll vote No anyway.
The Bloc is generally solid in its support for the bill.
The Conservatives have supporters on both sides of the issue, although leader Stephen Harper has urged amendments to the bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples, while preserving the traditional definition of marriage.
The Liberal legislation has been hanging fire since the summer of 2003, when the government of then-prime minister Jean Chretien sent it to the Supreme Court for a review. The Martin government expanded the scope of the reference a year ago.
The high court ruled in December that same sex marriages are constitutional, following more than two years of favourable lower court rulings that produced hundreds of same-sex marriages across Canada.
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