Wed. Jan. 19 2005 5:57 AM ET  Advertisement

  Tories to start same-sex marriage ad campaign
CTV.ca News Staff

Multicultural newspapers and religious publications will see ads from the Conservative Party defending traditional marriage in the coming days, CTV News has learned.

The ads will contrast the Liberal and Conservative positions on same-sex marriage and ask "What kind of Canada do you want?"

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper wants to preserve the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman while protecting the rights of same-sex couples in other ways.

While in India Tuesday, Prime Minister Paul Martin had to deal with the same-sex marriage question.

Joginder Singh Vedanti, spiritual leader of the Sikhs, issued an edict directing his followers around the world to reject the legalization of gay marriage. Vedanti said, "Same-sex marriage originates from a sick mind."

Martin was asked by reporters about the controversy.

"This is a question of civil marriage, not of religious marriage," Martin told reporters after meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"I would point out that we are a country of ethnic and religious minorities," the PM said. "And the purpose of the Charter of Rights is to protect minorities, to protect them against the oppression of the majority."

Sometime in early February, the federal Liberal government will finally table its legislation on same-sex marriage.

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said it should become law by summer.

The law will be subject to a vote in Parliament. It won't be a free vote. Cabinet ministers and parliamentary secretaries are bound to support it.

It is believed the vast majority of Bloc Quebecois and NDP MPs will support the bill. A few of the 99 Conservative MPs have said they will vote for it.

Legal scholars have said the only way for a federal government to derail same-sex marriage at this point is for a federal government to use the Constitution's not-withstanding clause to uphold a law banning it.

Otherwise, even if Parliament defeats the law, same-sex marriages will still be the law in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Yukon.

Appeal courts in those provinces and territories found the traditional definition of marriage violates the equality rights of gays and lesbians under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Supreme Court of Canada didn't specifically rule on the constitutionality of the traditional definition -- something eagerly seized on by same-sex marriage opponents when its decision was released in mid-December.

But some legal experts have said the country's highest court tacitly accepted the findings of the various appeal courts on that issue.

Being gay doesn't mean that you'll become a polygamist.

I see her point and I hope you can see the point being made without starting a flamefest.)

Bizz why are you flaming me?  I wasn't knocking religion.  I'm just saying that people should have the right to marry who they want to marry and love who they love, gay or straight, and to have someone blast something that they don't know anything about is ludicrous. 

"What Kind Of Canada Do You Want?"?  What kind of Canada do I want?  I want the kind of Canada where they keep dumb ass people like Harper from ever getting into postitions of power like this. 

With the court decision in Saskatchewan, same-sex marriage is not allowed in two territories and four provinces: the Northwest Territory, Nunavut Territory, and the Provinces of Alberta, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland/Labrador. Same-sex couples there are in a legal limbo. The courts have decided that the couples can marry, but the province appear to be refusing them marriage licenses until ordered by a court.

I'm not sure where polygamy is even an issue in this article. I'm guessing you're refering to the "One man, One woman" thing which is nothing more than their view on same-sex marriage and hasn't a thing to do with multiple partners.



Anywho, with the debate on this, I questioned someone who works for the Conservative Party, my mother..................


{Quote}
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper wants to preserve the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman while protecting the rights of same-sex couples in other ways.




I guess this is the part many tend to dismiss. The Conservative party is not saying that same-sex couples should not be able to have a union and have the same rights that married traditional couples have. What they are saying is that same sex couples should have unions-not marriages in a church. Marriage is a sacrament that is performed in the church. Since many Christian churches do not condone the homosexual lifestyle, why would they allow homosexuals to take part in a Christian sacrament in a church?

And to say that allowing a gary marriage in your church violates your own religious civil rights is too leaning. To say that a gay couple is not allowed to be witnessed by God in union is a violation of their religious rights. The truth here is this

NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ANOTHER PERSON WHAT TO DO. BE THEIR AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT OR GOD.

Now, go back to your tv dinners.

Okay.  I can live with that. 

And to say that allowing a gary marriage in your church violates your own religious civil rights is too leaning. To say that a gay couple is not allowed to be witnessed by God in union is a violation of their religious rights. The truth here is this

NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ANOTHER PERSON WHAT TO DO. BE THEIR AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT OR GOD.

Now, go back to your tv dinners.

Legal scholars have said the only way for a federal government to derail same-sex marriage at this point is for a federal government to use the Constitution's not-withstanding clause to uphold a law banning it.

I always say "if you are not married it is not cheating." Without the bond of marriage before God and the law there is nothing binding you to the other person or creating a family unit. There is no true commitment. However you are right, we all need to fight the high divorce rate.

And I do NOT think that ANY church should be forced to perform a ceremony it does not believe in.

And that is my point as well.

our premier recently said that he was opposed to gay marriages and would not allow his province to "burn in hell". I try to have an open mind to EVERY opinion, but the ignorance and hate in that statement sickened me.

That statement he made is sickening. It's no mans place to judge others like that. I don't suppose he was drunk again? Kinda like that incident with the homeless.