Senate passes same-sex legislation
Last updated Jul 20 2005 06:32 AM MDT
CBC News
Legislation giving same-sex couples the legal right to marry will become law after it receives royal assent as early as Wednesday.

In a late-night vote on Tuesday, the Senate approved the Liberal government's controversial Bill C-38 by a 47-21 vote. Three senators abstained.

The historic vote comes after gay and lesbian couples launched lawsuits in different provinces demanding the right to marry. Courts in seven provinces agreed that the traditional definition of marriage violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Liberal government responded to the first of those rulings – in Ontario in 2003 – by introducing legislation which was adopted last month in the House of Commons.

Alberta was one of the provinces that didn't allow same-sex marriage before the federal legislation.

Premier Ralph Klein initially vowed his government would fight allowing gays and lesbians to marry, but later said it would move to ensure those who oppose same-sex marriage can speak against it.

FROM JULY 12, 2005: Klein says Alberta will issue same-sex marriage licences
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has said he will bring back the same-sex debate if he's elected prime minister.

The bill will become law when it receives royal assent as early as Wednesday.

Once signed by the Governor General, Canada will follow the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain as countries legalizing gay marriage.

Senators rejected a Conservative motion stating the traditional definition of marriage is between a man and a woman, but that civil marriage is between two people.

"It would have brought a great deal of comfort to same-sex couples that they would not be perceived as having somehow gained their legitimate rights at the expense of those for whom the traditional marriage of a man and a woman was so terribly important," said Conservative Senator Noel Kinsella, who supported the amendment.

B.C. Senator Gerry St. Germain, an outspoken critic of the bill, fears judges are determining policies that should be decided by conscience.

"If we don't stop this I know what the next steps are. Euthanasia. Decriminalization of marijuana," St. Germain said.

But Senator Nancy Ruth, who voted for the bill, danced in the red chamber moments before the vote.

"There are some reasons to dance tonight and the whole country should be dancing," she said.

Fucking nutjobs.. More concerned with letting same sex couples marry than getting homeless kids off the street :(

Then they'd be letting people spit on the sidewalk and who knows where it would all lead....

Why on earth are the silliest things tied together by these thumpers?

"Hell, if we let you people live happily ever after, next thing ya know you'll be offin' Grandma and smokin' a joint."

Yeah if only Canada was as liberal as the US.

Speaking of silly canadians... In 2007 Canada will use lots of money on a big arctic military exercises to scare of NATO allies (USA/Denmark) and Russia from making claims in the arctic region... good luck I say :D

Yeah if only Canada was as liberal as the US. [/b][/quote]
Nationality neither predetermines nor limits idiocy.

Nationality neither predetermines nor limits idiocy. [/b][/quote]
Although sometimes one has to wonder ;)

Although sometimes one has to wonder ;) [/b][/quote]
Point taken, Lee. :)
However, without hope all is lost.

I agree with you 100% - no doubt. Faggots should be allowed to marry - it isn't a religious union...it's a social contract. It legally removes them from the gene pool. I don't get the neocon response...I say let them get hitched. It's not like married ass wranglers are gonna breed.

Let em' marry themselves into extinction. :stout:

I think MikeAI had the best line about Gay Marriages

Gays should be allowed to marry
Gays have the right to be miserable as everyone else!

Canada doesn't have homeless kids on the street.

Canada doesn't have homeless kids on the street. [/b][/quote]
Where does Canada keep the homeless kids? B)

Where does Canada keep the homeless kids? B) [/b][/quote]
If they follow all the other western socialist countries, then they keep the kids and their families in hotels, which cost more to run, then to give them real homes.

Canada is much more progressive when it comes to doing what is right for the times and their people. However, Canada isnt' without it's issues, much like the current Miss Universe controversy.

If you consider the screening of what's acceptable speech and ideologies as well as the criminalization of that which is deemed unpleasant or harmful by the government to be 'progressive" - you're one deluded motherfucker. Canada's draconian laws on speech are repugnant and should be looked upon with nothing but absolute scorn.

Premier Ralphie also likes to get piss drunk and go visit homeless shelters and preach at them all to get off their ass and go get jobs! LOL.


Sabby:)