Canadian Government Re-Opens Debate On Same Sex Marriage Law

Tories plan December vote on same-sex marriage

The Conservatives will follow through with their election promise to revisit same-sex marriage, with debate expected to begin as early as next week.

The government confirmed Tuesday they will begin debate Dec. 6th with a vote planned before the House breaks for the holidays.

The motion is expected to ask MPs to reopen discussion on same-sex marriage, but will not directly challenge the existing legislation. However, it may ask whether parliamentarians wish to repeal or amend the existing law.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said if the House votes against changing the law to allow same-sex marriages, the matter would be settled.

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

During the election campaign, Harper promised to hold a free vote in the House of Commons on whether Parliament should revisit the issue. Following the election, Harper said the vote would be held this fall.
Earlier this month, a group advocating the right to same-sex marriage demanded Harper hold a fall vote on the issue, accusing him of delaying just to appease his political support base.

Laurie Arron, national co-ordinator of Canadians for Equal Marriage, said his group projects that Harper's motion to reopen the debate would lose by a 30- to 40-vote margin.(CBC.ca)