I hope I'll be forgiven for multiple postings of this, but I do think that actually watching/listening to the debate is something that would be of interest to a lot of people here. We just had one gay MP thanking other MPs for their support.
To know who is speaking, you will have to actually look at the video (if you're listening while doing other things in other windows, as I am) shortly after a new Member of Parliament takes the floor -- the Speaker says only "the honourable member for ____", without identifying by name or party, and CPAC's on-line video only identifies the member speaking briefly, with his/her party, shortly after s/he begins.
Go here -- Canada's Political Channel.
http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=vie... In the upper right, "watch cpac now", click "English" for windows media video.
The audio portion you get will be in English when the language being spoken in the House is English, and the interpreter's voice when the language being spoken is French. (One of the interpreters is an old friend of mine -- who's gay, and I'm sure is enjoying most of the goings-on immensely.)
The bill to formally recognize that marriage is available to same-sex couples is a government (Liberal Party) bill. It is supported by the opposition New Democratic Party and Bloc Québécois, and opposed by the opposition Conservative Party. The House of Commons is, at present, divided as follows:
Liberal -- 133
NDP -- 19
Bloc Québécois -- 54
Conservative -- 98
independent -- 4
Some Liberals will undoubtedly vote against, but with the Bloc voting for, there will be no problem, and the bill will pass. (A procedural mechanism has been invoked to prevent stalling by the Conservatives.)
The actual (and historic) VOTE on the bill will take place late tonight, and will also be broadcast live. I assume that the debate will be going on until then. Check it out!
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