News > Politics > Canadian Government May Fall due to Same Sex Marriage Legislation

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TUESDAY JUNE 7 2005 4:07 AM

Canadian Government May Fall due to Same Sex Marriage Legislation

Submitted by Aya

Edited by MissTyrios

After the tumultuous month of May - when the Government of Canada was hard pressed to pass its annual budget, and then saved by a last minute defection from the Tories to the Grits - it seems that the Liberals' position is once again being compromised, this time due to its controversial same-sex marriage legislation.

Ontario Liberal MP Pat O'Brien has left the Grits to sit as an Independent member of Parliament, a move that could possibly trigger an election.

O'Brien has been out of step with his party on social issues and has been long opposed to the government's efforts to pass Bill C-38 -- the legislation to legalize same-sex marriage.

"That's not my goal in life, to defeat this government," said O'Brien.

"My goal is to defeat Bill C-38. But I won't rule out any democratic means to do that."

Those democratic means may include voting against the budget when it comes back from committee - bills must pass second and third readings in the House in order to pass, and a defeat in a budget bill is a non-confidence vote, meaning the government may be pushed into an unwanted summer election.

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Comments

MetaTag

United Kingdom

September 2002

JUN 07, 2005 04:28 AM

Reasearch has shown that those most opposed to homosexuality have repressed homosexual feelings themselfs. It is the fear of their own feelings and a fear of social stigma that motivates homophobia.

People who are secure in their own sexuality do not fear or feel the need to control the sexuality of other people.

bean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

JUN 07, 2005 04:31 AM

Aya said:
Those democratic means may include voting against the budget when it comes back from committee - bills must pass second and third readings in the House in order to pass, and a defeat in a budget bill is a non-confidence vote, meaning the government may be pushed into an unwanted summer election.

Whoa. Seriously? That's wild.

OpticNerve

Arlington, MA

November 2003

JUN 07, 2005 04:33 AM

I see this issue paralyzing the government, when the Liberals need to move on several issues quickly, such as the adoption of the Kyoto Accords and the financing of infrastructure improvements in the Greater Toronto Area.

Martin's government is a mess. Between the sponsorship scandal, the Arar affair and same sex marriage, this is going to be a rough couple of months for Parliament.

xreLLyx

Ajax, ON

April 2005

JUN 07, 2005 04:33 AM

Anyone who is opposed to same-sex marriages needs to think about one thing.

You don't have to marry someone of the same sex... so why the fuck do you care?!?!

mister_x

Plano, TX

January 2003

JUN 07, 2005 06:11 AM

watch out, the states may annex you during the confusion.

rockgod

Toronto, ON

August 2004

JUN 07, 2005 07:00 AM

we beat you once, we can do it again

jayenh

Fairbanks, AK

March 2004

JUN 07, 2005 01:53 PM

MetaTag said:
Reasearch has shown that those most opposed to homosexuality have repressed homosexual feelings themselfs. It is the fear of their own feelings and a fear of social stigma that motivates homophobia.

People who are secure in their own sexuality do not fear or feel the need to control the sexuality of other people.

Do you have any evidence of this research?

A large percentage of the population opposes homosexuality and same-sex marriage. I can't believe that more than a small majority of these people have 'repressed homosexual feelings.' The vast majority have religious or cultural reasons for their opposition. At least that's the only conceivable explanation to me.

Being secure in something has very little to do with approval or disapproval of other opposing practices. For example, suppose I am secure in my ability to avoid criminal behavior.

jayenh

Fairbanks, AK

March 2004

JUN 07, 2005 01:54 PM

rellyxbanana said:
Anyone who is opposed to same-sex marriages needs to think about one thing.

You don't have to marry someone of the same sex... so why the fuck do you care?!?!

Perhaps you have strong beliefs to the contrary. ?!?

troglodyte

Victoria, BC

May 2003

JUN 07, 2005 04:16 PM

joe_n_bloe said:

rellyxbanana said:
Anyone who is opposed to same-sex marriages needs to think about one thing.

You don't have to marry someone of the same sex... so why the fuck do you care?!?!

Perhaps you have strong beliefs to the contrary. ?!?

What do your strong beliefs have to do with other people's rights?

unravled

Portland, OR

August 2003

JUN 07, 2005 04:24 PM

troglodyte said:

joe_n_bloe said:

rellyxbanana said:
Anyone who is opposed to same-sex marriages needs to think about one thing.

You don't have to marry someone of the same sex... so why the fuck do you care?!?!

Perhaps you have strong beliefs to the contrary. ?!?

What do your strong beliefs have to do with other people's rights?

Pfft...you're such a Canadian.

troglodyte

Victoria, BC

May 2003

JUN 07, 2005 04:27 PM

unravled said:

troglodyte said:

joe_n_bloe said:

rellyxbanana said:
Anyone who is opposed to same-sex marriages needs to think about one thing.

You don't have to marry someone of the same sex... so why the fuck do you care?!?!

Perhaps you have strong beliefs to the contrary. ?!?

What do your strong beliefs have to do with other people's rights?

Pfft...you're such a Canadian.

Take off, eh.

abadinfluence

Canada

July 2003

JUN 07, 2005 04:27 PM

Okay ... here's my thing ... while it is true that the Liberal government has fucked the dog in terms of money scandals ... if an election were to happen, who would you vote for?

Can you actually see Jack Layton as our leader? How about George W. Harper?

Sadly ... sometimes the asshats you know are better than the asshats you don't.

troglodyte

Victoria, BC

May 2003

JUN 07, 2005 04:30 PM

I would like to see Layton, but, sadly, it'll probably be a Conservative minority.