Tories to hold free vote on same-sex marriage
The federal Conservatives say they will fulfill an early campaign promise to hold a free vote in Parliament on whether to reopen the divisive same-sex marriage law.
Justice Minister Vic Toews said the vote will be held "sooner rather than later;" however, no action is expected before the fall.
According to the Tory campaign platform, if the resolution is passed, the government will introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman.
During the campaign, Harper promised not to challenge the gay marriages already performed in Canada nor invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Constitution to overturn the law.
Gay-rights activists are urging the Tories to drop the plan.
"We are disappointed that the government is pursuing this vote because we consider the issue to be over and most Canadians consider the issue to be over," Kaj Hasselriis, national spokesperson for Canadians for Equal Marriage told CTV.ca.
"The government speaks frequently about the priorities of Canadians, and this is not one of them."
Gay weddings were legalized across Canada last summer after court judgments repeatedly declared it unconstitutional to bar them.
But opponents, who seek the chance to restore the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman, say there was never a fully free vote in Parliament.
A recent poll suggests most Canadians don't want the government to bring back the divisive issue.
Environics asked 2,034 Canadians in a phone survey last Jan. 20-22 whether a new Conservative government should bring back same-sex marriage for another vote.
Sixty-six per cent said no, while 30 per cent said yes, Keith Neuman of Environics told The Canadian Press.
Among Conservative supporters, 49 per cent said there should not be a new vote on gay marriage, while 47 per cent said they should.
Among supporters of other parties, the results were more distinct -- 77 per cent were against a new vote, while 20 per cent were in favour.
