Canadian Tories promise to fight same-sex marriage law in election

The Hill Times ^ | 28 July 2005 | Bea Vongdouangchanh

[Aussie Dasher]

The Conservatives say they won't drop the divisive same-sex issue this fall and promise to try to repeal it if they form the next government.

The federal Conservatives are still committed to revisiting the controversial same-sex marriage issue when the House returns in nine weeks, even though Bill C-38 received Royal Assent last week and despite last week's public opinion poll suggesting that a majority of Canadians don't want to reopen the divisive political issue.

Conservative MP Vic Toews (Provencher, Man.), his party's high-profile justice critic and a former Manitoba justice minister, told The Hill Times that the Conservatives will definitely make it an election issue out on the hustings and said if the federal Conservatives win the next election they will attempt to repeal the law.

"The Conservative government will bring forward an alternative; that's what political parties and governments do," Mr. Toews said in an interview last week with The Hill Times in regards to whether it's worth repealing the new law. "They offer alternatives and this is a commitment that we've made as an alternative to what the Liberals have forced on the Canadian people. I can't see how one can avoid it being an election issue. There's a very clear distinction between the Conservatives and all the other parties on that issue."

[Aussie Dasher]

Any FReepers care to go up and give them a hand?

[Clintonfatigued]

Excellent idea! If American conservatives can give them a helping hand without violating Canadian election laws or hurting local conservatives with the Canadian public, have at it.

Freepers, don't be surprised if Canada's parliamentary elections bring back memories of 1994.

[thoughtomator]

Silly conservatives, the courts will simply take the decision away from the legislature if it makes the "wrong" choice.

[Clintonfatigued]

We don't want to create a campaign-finance scandal or make Canadian conservatives appear to be servants of a foreign power.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

They have no juice.

If they couldn't oust the liberals this past Spring over the gross abuse of power, what makes them think they can fight something so mundane as legislation passed by the majority?

It's all so much blather.

[Archon of the East]

Canada's already doomed on many levels.

[Heartofsong83]

We can always invoke the notwithstanding clause...and buy time for the ultimate goal: amending Section 91 of the Constitution in order to define marriage as one man and one woman...

[jmaroneps37]

Good for them. Now when they get kicked "ouut" of canada lets give them asylum.