Support For Canadian Gay Marriage Repeal Waning

[tuvor]

(Ottawa) Despite a pledge by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to revisit the law granting marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples a majority in Parliament oppose such a move and the law is unlikely to be repealed it now appears.

Harper announced earlier this summer that he would schedule a fall vote asking Members of Parliament if they wished to re-open the issue. Since then the New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois Parties announced they would vote against it.

The two small parties which hold the balance of power in the minority Parliament said all of their members would vote against the measure. The Official Opposition, the Liberals, are allowing a free vote. The marriage law was passed when the Liberals were in power and a straw poll shows that only about 30 members of the party would support re-opening the issue. The combined "no" vote on revisiting same-sex marriage assures the issue will die.

But perhaps the most telling sign that no one on Parliament Hill wants a repeat of the acrimonious debate that preceded the vote granting gay marriage comes from within the Conservative Party itself. At least 11 Tory members have voiced their opposition to revisiting the issue.

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/09/091106canada.htm

[Kagemusha]

1. There's no legal way to overturn it. None.

So what Harper thinks is completely irrelevant.

[Lautremont]

2. Except to his followers.

It's just a little show he's putting on, I'd guess, to show how much he hates them faggerts.

[Kagemusha]

3. Basically.

A revolution would be required to overturn a Supreme Court ruling about an unchangeable part of the constitution.

[Bassic]

9. Well he'd have to ammend the Constitution, but good luck with that! nt

[Canadian_moderate]

4. I don't think Harper cares all that much

His stance was strictly to appeal a certain element of Canadian society, the less enlightened ones who think gays and lesbians threaten the existence of Canadian families.

He'll say he tried and failed and then move on. He's not stupid enough to risk his gov't over this issue.

[Bragi]

5. So then what happens?

So let's say Harper wants to review vote to fail, and it does. What then? Does he think the fundies will just give up, or will they blame the defeat of the review vote on not having enough elected cons, and hence back the party next time? Or will they target for defeat cons who voted against the review? Or what?

- B

[Manix]

6. For the hardcore wingnuts this will never go away.

[Kagemusha]

7. Well until the Canadian constitution goes away they can pound sand.

I'm not a fan of constitutions with parts that cannot be legally altered without a wholesale destruction of the legal basis on which the country stands (you know, a revolution) but, that's what's the case here; conservatives don't have the legal power to change it. No one does, unless the supreme court someday changes its mind (not bloody likely, and stuffing the court would be not simply politically odious to the public but would require combatting the whole of the entire legal profession which intensely guards its reputation for integrity, a reputation in far better overall shape than in the United States.. and anyway, the process is designed not to allow stuffing so getting it done would simply be excruciatingly difficult).

So there's nothing Harper can do for the hardcore wingnuts except show them that his heart is with them.

[Mother Jones]

8. There IS something Harper can do.....and he's trying to do it.

Changing the Senate..... Allowing for, as he calls it, a "western voice to be heard"...so there are more right-wing crazies in the Senate to fight any Liberal legislation.