TORONTO — Canada’s ruling party narrowly defeated a Parliament resolution that opposes the government’s plan to legalize homosexual marriage. The Associated Press reported that the resolution by the Canadian Alliance opposition party was defeated by a 137–132 vote in the 301-member House of Commons during the last week of September. The proposed resolution was nonbinding and carried no legal weight, but was intended to force Parliament members from the governing Liberal party to officially declare their position on an issue that has divided the country.
Hundreds of homosexual couples have been married in Ontario and British Columbia since courts there ruled earlier this year that the current definition on marriage as between a man and a woman was discriminatory. The Canadian government has not appealed the decision of the courts and chose instead to rewrite the law to define marriage as between two persons with no gender distinction. That law has been sent to the Canadian Supreme Court for review before Parliament considers it. Opinion polls show that Canadians are evenly split on the issue of legalizing homosexual marriage. The proposed resolution expressed support for the traditional definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, and said that Parliament should take “all necessary steps to preserve the traditional definition of marriage.”
Stephen Harper, the opposition leader who introduced the resolution for a vote, said the issue is about supporting traditional marriage and giving Parliament a say in the matter instead of letting courts set the policy. The government’s proposed law has set off a nationwide opposition movement, according to the Associated Press, led by conservative groups and churches.
(TAB)
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