HARPER INSISTS ON FALL VOTE ON RE-OPENING MARRIAGE

Announces timing after reports even his own MPs consider the issue settled

(OTTAWA, June 2) In reaction to reports that many in his caucus consider the issue settled, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that his long talked-about government motion to re-open the equal marriage debate will be introduced in the fall.

This announcement comes a little over a week before the third anniversary of equal marriage in Ontario. On June 10, 2003 the first marriage licences were issued to same-sex couples following the historic Ontario Court of Appeal decision. (Click here for legal background.)

“Same-sex couples have been getting legally married for almost three years now,” said Kaj Hasselriis, National Spokesperson of Canadians for Equal Marriage. “This issue is settled. Canadians know it and even Conservative MPs and Cabinet Ministers know it. It’s time for Stephen Harper to admit that this issue is settled.”

“Canadians have moved on,” said Laurie Arron, National Coordinator of Canadians for Equal Marriage. “This issue’s been debated to death and Parliament has voted. Canadians don’t want another divisive debate. Polls show that 2/3 of Canadians are against re-opening. Re-opening this issue is divisive politics that will foster social division.”

“As long as Mr. Harper is threatening us with a vote to re-open this issue, our marriages are under a cloud and our status as full citizens is in question,” continued Mr. Arron.

Hasselriis and Arron said that if Mr. Harper insists on having a vote, he should at least do it before summer and not delay it until the fall – as the religious right wants. “There’s still plenty of time before MPs break for the summer to have this vote,” said Hasselriis. “It takes less than a day of Parliament’s time to debate and vote on a motion.”

According to two recent Environics polls (conducted last November, 2005 and January, 2006), 2/3 of Canadians are against re-opening this divisive debate. In a Canadian Press article published earlier this week, several members of Harper’s own cabinet said the issue is settled for them, too.

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