[ political ]
Jan. 22nd, 2005 04:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ashinaePosting this for any Canadians who aren't aware, don't get the Toronto Star, don't want to register at thestar.com.
PM `ready' for election
Martin willing to go to polls to support same-sex marriage
From the Toronto Star, Saturday, 22 January, 2005
TONDA MACCHARLES
OTTAWA BUREAU
BEIJING—Seven months after the last federal election, the issue of same-sex marriage could send Canadians to the polls — and soon.
Prime Minister Paul Martin interrupted his trade tour of China yesterday to lash out at a comment made by Tory Leader Stephen Harper in Montreal.
Harper had earlier taken a shot at the government's plan to bring in legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, saying "the next thing on the Liberal agenda will be polygamy and who knows what else."
Harper's comments had Martin seething.
"Unlike Mr. Harper I will stand up for the Canadian Charter of Rights and I will respect the rights of all," Martin told reporters. "That's the difference. He won't stand up for the Charter of Rights and I will."
Asked if he was prepared to go to an election over such a fundamental question, Martin said in French he would not rule it out.
"It's not my intention to go to an election. We are there to govern. And I want to continue, we want to govern. But if the question ... is, am I ready to go to an election to support the Charter of Rights against those who want to attack it, the answer is absolutely yes."
An election though, is not just in the Prime Minister's hands. He has a minority government, and his office said yesterday the same-sex legislation would not be considered a matter of confidence that could bring down the government. The vote sometime later this year is considered a free vote for MPs, but cabinet ministers are obliged to support the government.
But Martin spokesperson Marc Roy said it would be a matter of confidence if there were to be a vote to return to a ban on same-sex marriage by using the "notwithstanding clause" in the Constitution to override the courts. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled last month that the plan to extend civil marriage to same-sex couples was constitutional.
Martin is under increasing pressure from inside his Liberal caucus and from religious groups and leaders not to proceed with the legislation, expected in less than two weeks.
Yesterday, Marc Cardinal Ouellet, the Archbishop of Quebec and the Roman Catholic Primate of Canada, released an open letter to Martin, saying "at the risk of being judged "politically incorrect," we need to recall that the bill under discussion is offensive to the moral and religious sensibility of a great number of citizens, both Catholic and non-Catholic."
Ouelett's comments follow those of Toronto's Catholic Archbishop Aloysius Ambrozic, who wants the notwithstanding clause used to override the Supreme Court decision.
In Beijing, Martin said Harper cannot realize "how ridiculous he must look" to suggest that allowing people to have more than one marital partner could be on the Liberal agenda.
"Polygamy is against the law, and as far as I'm concerned it will always be against the law," said Martin.
"And the fundamental issue that is at stake here (is that a Harper) government is one that would strip away the rights of individuals. It would strip away the rights of minorities. That's not my Canada, it will never be my Canada."
After returning to Ottawa, Harper issued a statement that "while he (Martin) promised that the upcoming vote will be free for his backbenchers, he now appears to be threatening them with an election should they vote against his legislation."
Harper went on to say "I thought Mr. Martin had an agenda that he was planning to legislate, but if he wants to call an election on this issue, so be it. I am confident that our position on this issue is supported by a majority of Canadians."
The same-sex legislation could be introduced by Justice Minister Irwin Cotler a couple of days after the Commons resumes sitting Jan. 31.
The Liberals hold 133 of the 308 seats in the Commons. There are 99 Conservatives, almost all of whom would vote against same-sex legislation, but the 54 Bloc Québécois MPs and the 19 NDP MPs are solidly in support. There are two independents and one vacancy.
Leading up to the June 28 election last year, Harper appeared to be leading, but some analysts suggest the tide turned against him when he suggested Martin was soft on child pornography.
If the Liberals press ahead with a quick election, they will again try to paint him as intolerant and out of touch with the new Canadian society. But many Liberal MPs found out over the recent holidays that their constituents agree with Harper.
Martin's comments came at the end of a three-day visit here during which he was repeatedly questioned about human rights abuses in China.
The questions became more pointed yesterday when Conservative MP Jason Kenney, one of several opposition MPs invited on the trip, publicly paid respects at the home of the Zhao Ziyang, a former Communist Party leader who died Monday.
It was a gesture Martin had declined a day earlier, saying it was not on his "schedule."
In contrast, Kenney found an interpreter and went to Zhao's street to show "solidarity" with those who support rights and democracy in China.
It had been a risky move that could have backfired, and come off as a political stunt.
Instead, a handful of Canadian reporters were struck by the impact Kenney's gesture had on his 28-year-old interpreter, who was 13 when the Tiananmen Square massacre occurred on June 4, 1989.
Yesterday, encouraged by Kenney, the man said he overcame his instinctive fear when they first turned down the block and saw the police.
"I think I did show my own respect to the leader as well, not just help Jason, Mr. Jason, to do that. I think myself I was involved as well," said the man.
"I'm very proud," said the man, asking reporters not to use his name for fear he would lose his job. "He was a great leader."
Zhao had lived under house arrest ever since he tried to warn the 1989 Tiananmen Square protesters of their impending fate.
Kenney said Martin obviously had to be diplomatic, but should be more forceful on human rights in China.
"Why should we as Canadians be shy about appropriate expressions of our support for democracy and human rights in China ..." the Calgary MP said.
But Martin said the family had requested privacy, the same thing Chinese police told Kenney when he arrived.
"I think probably the greatest tribute you can give somebody for whom you have admiration is that you respect that family's grief. Jason Kenney didn't do that," Martin said.
He argued that Canada was helping China make real "progress" on human rights.
Kenney said that Martin is "naïve" and "gullible."
PM `ready' for election
Martin willing to go to polls to support same-sex marriage
From the Toronto Star, Saturday, 22 January, 2005
TONDA MACCHARLES
OTTAWA BUREAU
BEIJING—Seven months after the last federal election, the issue of same-sex marriage could send Canadians to the polls — and soon.
Prime Minister Paul Martin interrupted his trade tour of China yesterday to lash out at a comment made by Tory Leader Stephen Harper in Montreal.
Harper had earlier taken a shot at the government's plan to bring in legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, saying "the next thing on the Liberal agenda will be polygamy and who knows what else."
Harper's comments had Martin seething.
"Unlike Mr. Harper I will stand up for the Canadian Charter of Rights and I will respect the rights of all," Martin told reporters. "That's the difference. He won't stand up for the Charter of Rights and I will."
Asked if he was prepared to go to an election over such a fundamental question, Martin said in French he would not rule it out.
"It's not my intention to go to an election. We are there to govern. And I want to continue, we want to govern. But if the question ... is, am I ready to go to an election to support the Charter of Rights against those who want to attack it, the answer is absolutely yes."
An election though, is not just in the Prime Minister's hands. He has a minority government, and his office said yesterday the same-sex legislation would not be considered a matter of confidence that could bring down the government. The vote sometime later this year is considered a free vote for MPs, but cabinet ministers are obliged to support the government.
But Martin spokesperson Marc Roy said it would be a matter of confidence if there were to be a vote to return to a ban on same-sex marriage by using the "notwithstanding clause" in the Constitution to override the courts. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled last month that the plan to extend civil marriage to same-sex couples was constitutional.
Martin is under increasing pressure from inside his Liberal caucus and from religious groups and leaders not to proceed with the legislation, expected in less than two weeks.
Yesterday, Marc Cardinal Ouellet, the Archbishop of Quebec and the Roman Catholic Primate of Canada, released an open letter to Martin, saying "at the risk of being judged "politically incorrect," we need to recall that the bill under discussion is offensive to the moral and religious sensibility of a great number of citizens, both Catholic and non-Catholic."
Ouelett's comments follow those of Toronto's Catholic Archbishop Aloysius Ambrozic, who wants the notwithstanding clause used to override the Supreme Court decision.
In Beijing, Martin said Harper cannot realize "how ridiculous he must look" to suggest that allowing people to have more than one marital partner could be on the Liberal agenda.
"Polygamy is against the law, and as far as I'm concerned it will always be against the law," said Martin.
"And the fundamental issue that is at stake here (is that a Harper) government is one that would strip away the rights of individuals. It would strip away the rights of minorities. That's not my Canada, it will never be my Canada."
After returning to Ottawa, Harper issued a statement that "while he (Martin) promised that the upcoming vote will be free for his backbenchers, he now appears to be threatening them with an election should they vote against his legislation."
Harper went on to say "I thought Mr. Martin had an agenda that he was planning to legislate, but if he wants to call an election on this issue, so be it. I am confident that our position on this issue is supported by a majority of Canadians."
The same-sex legislation could be introduced by Justice Minister Irwin Cotler a couple of days after the Commons resumes sitting Jan. 31.
The Liberals hold 133 of the 308 seats in the Commons. There are 99 Conservatives, almost all of whom would vote against same-sex legislation, but the 54 Bloc Québécois MPs and the 19 NDP MPs are solidly in support. There are two independents and one vacancy.
Leading up to the June 28 election last year, Harper appeared to be leading, but some analysts suggest the tide turned against him when he suggested Martin was soft on child pornography.
If the Liberals press ahead with a quick election, they will again try to paint him as intolerant and out of touch with the new Canadian society. But many Liberal MPs found out over the recent holidays that their constituents agree with Harper.
Martin's comments came at the end of a three-day visit here during which he was repeatedly questioned about human rights abuses in China.
The questions became more pointed yesterday when Conservative MP Jason Kenney, one of several opposition MPs invited on the trip, publicly paid respects at the home of the Zhao Ziyang, a former Communist Party leader who died Monday.
It was a gesture Martin had declined a day earlier, saying it was not on his "schedule."
In contrast, Kenney found an interpreter and went to Zhao's street to show "solidarity" with those who support rights and democracy in China.
It had been a risky move that could have backfired, and come off as a political stunt.
Instead, a handful of Canadian reporters were struck by the impact Kenney's gesture had on his 28-year-old interpreter, who was 13 when the Tiananmen Square massacre occurred on June 4, 1989.
Yesterday, encouraged by Kenney, the man said he overcame his instinctive fear when they first turned down the block and saw the police.
"I think I did show my own respect to the leader as well, not just help Jason, Mr. Jason, to do that. I think myself I was involved as well," said the man.
"I'm very proud," said the man, asking reporters not to use his name for fear he would lose his job. "He was a great leader."
Zhao had lived under house arrest ever since he tried to warn the 1989 Tiananmen Square protesters of their impending fate.
Kenney said Martin obviously had to be diplomatic, but should be more forceful on human rights in China.
"Why should we as Canadians be shy about appropriate expressions of our support for democracy and human rights in China ..." the Calgary MP said.
But Martin said the family had requested privacy, the same thing Chinese police told Kenney when he arrived.
"I think probably the greatest tribute you can give somebody for whom you have admiration is that you respect that family's grief. Jason Kenney didn't do that," Martin said.
He argued that Canada was helping China make real "progress" on human rights.
Kenney said that Martin is "naïve" and "gullible."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-01-22 01:40 pm (UTC)I'm really wondering what the hell is going through everyone's minds over the Notwithstanding Clause, because as far as I know, the Clause does not apply when it comes to issues that extend to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. >_< And if gay marriage is an issue of Human Rights (and I believe it is), then the bunch of whiners who are afraid that their subjective moral standards are going to crumble under the onslaught of people legally getting married can go suck an egg, to use a completely adult metaphor. ^_~
no subject
Date: 2005-01-22 02:53 pm (UTC)I adore your icon. I wish my morals were weaker, because then I would steal it.
& back on topic with what awesome
I have a bit of voter burnout, since I had to vote in 3 elections last year, but I will vote again to smack Harper down. That man scares me. Martin's not my favourite person in the world, but at least he's not hiding behind "tradition" and "morals".
no subject
Date: 2005-01-23 09:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-24 12:08 am (UTC)*G* Thank you. That's very kind of you to say (and I'm glad your morals are so strong ^_~). That icon isn't up for grabs, but if you like, I can whip up a similar one (same phrase, different graphic) for you and
no subject
Date: 2005-01-24 05:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-23 09:36 am (UTC)The whole thing just infuriates me so much. As I'm sure is evidenced by the open letter to Mr Harper that I just posted. It makes me nearly incoherent with rage. GrrrrArgh.
I still love that icon of yours. ♥ It makes me feel all warm and nummy inside. And patriotic and proud. I love my country! I love my country for her principles and her rights and freedoms. I don't want to see someone start steamrolling in and trying to change it.
no subject
Date: 2005-01-24 12:13 am (UTC)Shame it's not the good stuff. >_<
It makes me nearly incoherent with rage. GrrrrArgh.
God, do I know what you mean. Harper doesn't get my blood boiling as much as Ralphie boy, but yeah... *shakes fist*
I still love that icon of yours.
Thanks! *G* I'm very proud of it. Like I just said to
I love my country for her principles and her rights and freedoms. I don't want to see someone start steamrolling in and trying to change it.
Exactly. I sincerely hope that Harper and Klein are representatives of the crackpots only, and that good ol' Canadian sense will win out. The state does not belong in the bedrooms of the nation, nor does it belong between legal rights and people who love one another, regardless of gender.