PARLIAMENT GIVES EQUAL MARRIAGE A CLEAR ENDORSEMENT - BUT STILL LOTS OF WORK TO DO
Ending discrimination against gays and lesbians cleared another major
hurdle today when Parliament voted 164-137
in favour
of the second reading of Bill C-38. Equal marriage supporters praised
Parliament for approving in principle the Bill to bring federal law
into compliance with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms .
The vote marks the first time in history that Parliament has affirmatively voted in favour of equal marriage and officially means that Parliament approves the Bill in principle.
Next come hearings by a legislative
committee, a third-reading vote in Parliament and then first, second
and third readings in the Senate.
Equality opponents have had a deliberate strategy of using their deep pockets to try to drag out the bill as long as possible. They hope the minority Liberal government will fall in the Commons before the legislation is passed.
"Today is an important and historic victory for gays and lesbians and an equally important victory for the overwhelming majority of Canadians across the country who support the Charter," said Alex Munter, national spokesperson for Canadians for Equal Marriage (CEM). "With this vote, Parliament has officially endorsed the principle of equal marriage. Now the issue is not whether to pass equal marriage legislation, but how."
"While this is an historic day, this is, in fact, the third time in 18 months that Parliament has voted to reject Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's selective rights plan which seeks to exclude same-sex couples from the protection of the Charter of Rights," said Munter, pointing to Mr. Harper's failed attempts last month and in September 2003 to lay the groundwork for over-riding decisions by 29 judges on eleven different courts who have unanimously upheld the Charter.
Munter also urged Conservative MPs to reconsider calling an immediate election noting that recent polling points to a vast majority of Canadians rejecting a spring election call.
"The equal marriage issue -- like many, many other pressing issues important to Canadians -- needs the urgent attention of Parliament priorto an election," Munter said. "A premature election jeopardizes this and other key initiatives that need to be passed. Canadians would rather poke themselves in the eye than have another equal marriage debate. In spite of 76% of Canadians wanting Parliament to decide this issue, it appears Mr. Harper doesn't care at all about what the majority of Canadians want. Canadians want the equal marriage bill dealt with, yet Mr. Harper pulls every trick in the book to delay it; they don't want an election, yet he's chomping at the bit to call one. It's time he listens to Canadians and lets Parliament do its work."
If an election is called, Canadians For Equal Marriage will ensure supporters of equality are heard. An Environics survey reported April 25 by the Winnipeg Free Press found that a majority of Canadians continue to support the Equal Marriage Bill. Currently, 52% are in favour and 45% are against the Bill.
Your PSAC Ontario Council Representative
for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered
Members is JOHN ROSS
Call (W) (519) 751-2584 (H) (905) 768-3756
PO Box 325 Hagersville , ON N0A 1H0