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This is promising.
Jun. 1st, 2006 09:05 amhttp://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/05/31/1608474-cp.html
The article is about how Conservative MPs don't really want to reopen the same-sex marriage debate, even though it was part of their election platform.
It goes back to what I was hearing from some of my rather more socially-conservative colleagues a few months ago: while they fought the law, signed petitions against it and wrote letters to their MPs last spring, they can't see turning back the clock and making something illegal that has been acceptable for a year already - longer in several provinces, including Ontario. I can see how they just want it to go away.
My opinion: Harper should indeed put the motion before the House, asking if MPs want the debate reopened. He should request a free vote from all parties - that is, no party should force their members to vote party line. The motion would fail dramatically, since at this point many government MP's wouldn't support it, and the social-conservatives would have the best they'd ever get: a clear indication that their elected representatives really do believe this is the best thing for the country.
This is the best way to lay the issue to rest. Politically, for the Conservatives, it's not a bad option: they get the chance to show that they're not quite as bigoted as everyone believes (knows?) them to be, which can only help their image. Of course, those who still vote to reopen the debate might come in for some political heat for it. It would be interesting to see who would vote that way. (I'm thinking our local David Sweet would, but then, he's a Dominionist nutcase-in-the-closet to begin with so it's not that surprising.)
The article is about how Conservative MPs don't really want to reopen the same-sex marriage debate, even though it was part of their election platform.
It goes back to what I was hearing from some of my rather more socially-conservative colleagues a few months ago: while they fought the law, signed petitions against it and wrote letters to their MPs last spring, they can't see turning back the clock and making something illegal that has been acceptable for a year already - longer in several provinces, including Ontario. I can see how they just want it to go away.
My opinion: Harper should indeed put the motion before the House, asking if MPs want the debate reopened. He should request a free vote from all parties - that is, no party should force their members to vote party line. The motion would fail dramatically, since at this point many government MP's wouldn't support it, and the social-conservatives would have the best they'd ever get: a clear indication that their elected representatives really do believe this is the best thing for the country.
This is the best way to lay the issue to rest. Politically, for the Conservatives, it's not a bad option: they get the chance to show that they're not quite as bigoted as everyone believes (knows?) them to be, which can only help their image. Of course, those who still vote to reopen the debate might come in for some political heat for it. It would be interesting to see who would vote that way. (I'm thinking our local David Sweet would, but then, he's a Dominionist nutcase-in-the-closet to begin with so it's not that surprising.)