Tories to introduce gay marriage motion (Cdn Parliament - watch debate live on line)

[iverglas]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/12/06/same-sex.html

The Conservatives will introduce a controversial motion Wednesday to reopen the issue of same-sex marriage, following through on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's election promise to revisit the issue.

The motion, which is expected to be voted on Thursday, will call on the government to "introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages."

But the motion is not expected to pass. And Harper has said if the House votes against changing the law to allow same-sex marriages, the matter would be settled.

Harper said his caucus and cabinet ministers will be allowed to vote freely on the issue. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who is against the motion, said it's an issue about Charter rights, but has not yet revealed whether he will force his caucus to vote against it.

... Same-sex marriage became legal in Canada last year when Parliament passed Bill C-38 in response to a series of court rulings that gays had the right to marry.

(Party discipline is strong in Canada. Free votes are allowed only on matters that parties regard as matters of "conscience", and a progressive party could not call the equality rights of a minority group a matter of individual MPs' conscience. An MP who votes against his/her leader's directions on a non-free vote can expect to be stripped of any Cabinet or critic or committee position s/he holds, if not turfed from caucus.)

Editorial comment in the Globe and Mail (the Globe being a "conservative" - not necessarily right-wing - newspaper, and Jeffrey Simpson being the embodiment of its editorial stances):
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061206.wsimpson06/BNStory/National/home

The same-sex debate is a meaningless charade
JEFFREY SIMPSON
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Today, when the House of Commons again takes up same-sex marriage, every minute of the debate will be a legal nonsense.

Same-sex marriage has been sanctioned through Charter of Rights interpretations by provincial courts. It's obvious beyond debate that the Supreme Court of Canada would rule likewise.

... But, then, that is likely what the Harper Conservatives intend. A futile debate, with a vote that will end in defeat, is a fine result, assuming a debate has become a political necessity.

For people with an interest in the issue, you can watch debate in the House of Commons live here, starting at 2pm:

http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/parlvuen%2Dca/
Click here:

Wednesday, December 6, 2006 - 02:00 PM EST - 300 Minutes - HoC Sitting No. 94

and select English floor video (or you can select just audio) -- selecting English ensures that you hear the translation of speeches in French.

The debate should begin not too long after 2pm, after routine business, and by special motion will continue until midnight tonight, and be voted on at 3pm Thursday. Tune in anytime; members will be speaking for 5 or 10 minutes each, and each member who speaks can be questioned by other members of all parties.

The interest for people not in Canada would be in seeing how the issue is addressed outside the US, and particularly how the rights of gay men and lesbians are supported and defended by progressive (NDP, Bloc Québécois) and even not so progressive (Liberal, and yes, even some Conservative) politicians.

[iverglas]

1. debate has begun (3:50 pm)

In case anybody took me at my word and looked earlier and caught, say, the vote on the softwood lumber bill.

(In case anybody actually did that -- the bill was the Conservative government's abandonment of $1 billion owing to Canada by the United States under all of the tribunal decisions that had found the US to be in violation of NAFTA and to have illegally collected duties on Cdn softwood lumber imports.)

Just another bit of local colour: if you listen to the debate, you'll notice one French to English interpreter who is particularly outstanding -- and gay. ;)


edit -- and of course there are the openly gay and lesbian MPs: Bill Siksay of the New Democratic Party, Libby Davies of the NDP, Réal Ménard of the Bloc Québécois, and Liberals Mario Silva and (formerly Conservative) Scott Brison.

And in a category of his own, there is the prostitute turned RC priest recently elected for the BQ, Raymond Gravel:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2006/10/30/repentigny-byelection.html

Rev. Raymond Gravel will run for the Bloc Québécois, having been granted special permission by the Vatican to run for office. Gravel will maintain his priest status but won't be allowed to celebrate mass, weddings or funerals, or perform baptisms.

Gravel has been an outspoken critic of the church's opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion, and was a prostitute before becoming a priest.

[laundry_queen]

2. kick.

This is hard to swallow - watching all the con blowhards. :puke:
I urge Canadians to write their MP - even (especially!) if they are Cons about this issue.

If I have to hear "we're doing this for our children" one more time........:puke: :puke: :puke:

[iverglas]

3. "This is hard to swallow"

It is indeed causing foul words to come out of my mouth. I've been listening all day (work-related, but would anyhow).

There was a lot better stuff earlier -- Bill Siksay, Réal Ménard, Bill Graham even. These last few Conservatives (the "Tories" in the headline wasn't mine) are just beyond belief in their stupidity and vileness.

Oh my good bleeding dog. This last one just ended his putrid glob with a prayer to almighty god. Pass the basin.

[laundry_queen]

4. I'll pass it to you

once I'm finished with it. ;)
At least I did hear Hedy Fry was smacking them down, but they keep popping up, like "whack-a-mole".
I'm sorry I missed the earlier stuff. Siksay is still there though :)