For anyone who missed it, the big red pencil came out and established a line that we do not cross, established that we do not go backwards no matter how much some feel they are entitled to tell other people what to do with their personal dignity in relation to love. That would be the legislature saying it is not even interested in listening to the idea. Over.
The last major threat to same-sex marriage rights in Canada was soundly defeated in the House of Commons today, with MPs sending the message that they don’t want to revisit the emotional, divisive debate. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he heard the message and will respect it. "We made a promise to have a free vote on this issue, we kept that promise, and obviously the vote was decisive and obviously we’ll accept the democratic result of the people’s representatives," Harper said.This is the most socially conservative group that has run the government since about WWI and the result was they lost 10% of their own caucus to the other side, the constitutionally appropriate side.
Good for Harper to say enough is enough.
Comments
Chris Taylor - December 8, 2006 12:29 pm
I think it was a clever way of saying both "See, I did what I promised" and "Give it up, this issue is closed" to socon Tory supporters.
If he had refused to even hold an open vote, then there would be people agitating for a change in leadership or party executive. This is a nice way of defusing that bomb and putting the SSM issue to bed.
Hans - December 8, 2006 1:26 pm
plus it was done democratically so those that believe in free votes and are against same sex marriage can't complain as much. it was a free vote, it lost, tyhat's democracy, go home. geez, is this an indication that democracy actually works sometimes?!?!?!