Update from Ottawa

It's been a roller-coaster week here in Ottawa - from Parliament's clear repudiation of Stephen Harper's attempt to gut the equal marriage bill to the growing belief that Canadians will be off to the polls in a matter of weeks. The situation around here changes very rapidly - the conventional wisdom one evening becomes a discredited rumour by the next morning.

I want to reassure you that we are as determined as ever to see the equal marriage bill passed by Parliament. We are working the phones, talking with allies and making the case in public and in private: petty politics must not come ahead of human rights.

All but four Conservative MPs have been engaged in a systematic effort to obstruct the bill. In an effort to turn back the clock on human rights, the Conservative leadership is trying to run out the clock on this Parliament. However, as we saw in Tuesday's 164-132 vote, the bill's supporters are numerous enough to carry the day -- if they are prepared to stand up for the bill.

Our political co-ordinator Laurie Arron, our team of volunteers and I are all making a determined effort to convince decision-makers to do whatever they need to do to get this bill through this Parliament. Our team will continue to make those efforts here in Ottawa - you can help by contacting our MPs and reminding them of how long LGBT Canadians have already been waiting for equality (see key messages below).

It's imperative that we continue to have a strong and effective voice in Ottawa and across the country, both for passage of the bill and for any election that might be called. Our well-funded opponents, including the American religious right, are not going away. We, on the other hand, fully depend on the generosity of individuals who genuinely care about ending discrimination. Please consider making a generous contribution today - contributions of any size are greatly appreciated. To make yours go to http://www.equal-marriage.ca/donate.php.

If there is an election, this bill and all other pending legislation dies on the order paper. However, that does not affect the equal marriage rights of Canadians who live in nearly 90% of Canada -- Yukon, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Equal marriage is the law of the land there; it will remain so even if this bill is not passed. For those who live in the remaining three provinces and two territories, however, failure to pass this law perpetuates discrimination and exclusion.

Stephen Harper has long demanded that elected officials, not judges, decide this issue. Ironically, he is pursuing a course of action apparently designed to prevent Parliament from deciding. On the one hand, he is filibustering the bill and, on the other hand, promising that a Harper government will impose an unconstitutional equal-marriage-ban that would be challenged in the courts within hours of being adopted.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. After centuries of discrimination, LGBT people are tough. We're not going anywhere.

Alex Munter
National Co-ordinator
Canadians For Equal Marriage




EQUAL MARRIAGE: KEY MESSAGES - SPEEDY PASSAGE

1. Canadians want Parliament to decide on this human rights issue:

- Now that Parliament has had its first vote on the government's equal marriage bill (C-38), and MPs have made up their minds on this issue, it's time to get on with it and let Parliament decide this issue before any election is called.

- Canadians have also made up their minds. An Environics poll released April 12, shows that a striking 76-percent of Canadians say there has been enough discussion of the issue of same sex marriage. And that it's time for a vote. Those numbers are consistent in every region, every age group, every religion and every political party. 70% of Conservatives say this.

- While some gay and lesbian couples are getting ready to celebrate their second anniversary, others live in the 10% of Canada where they are being denied their human rights. It's time for Parliament to act.


2. Opponents can not be allowed to subvert the will of Parliament by obstructionist game playing:

- Mr. Harper claimed during the last election that Parliament should decide the question of equal marriage. Since the Bill was introduced in February, every MP that wanted to speak to it has done so.

- During this debate, the Conservative leadership did everything possible to delay a vote on the bill.

- MPs have now voted on the bill. They have made up their minds. And yet the Conservative leadership says they will continue to stall. Mr. Harper can not have this both ways


3. There has been years of Public Consultation on Equal Marriage:

- The Commons Justice Committee held cross-country hearings in 2003, and heard from almost 500 members of the public, the majority of whom supported equal marriage.

- Equal marriage was thoroughly debated during the 2004 election and Canadians rejected Mr. Harper's position

- MPs have received extensive feedback from their constituents on this issue. The public has made its voice heard.