FACT SHEET: Why this Divisive Debate should not be Re-opened

Page 33 of the Conservative election platform says a Conservative government will “hold a truly free vote on the definition of marriage in the next session of Parliament. If the resolution is passed, the government will introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage while respecting existing same-sex marriages.”


CANADIANS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSED TO RE-OPENING

- Re-opening this issue is divisive politics that will foster social division.

- 2/3 of Canadians say they’re against re-opening this divisive debate (Environics). Even among business executives there is a strong consensus against re-opening (Report on Business).

- Focus groups of swing voters conducted immediately after the election revealed that not a single one of the 72 participants was in favour of re-opening equal marriage (Navigator).

- The issue’s already been debated to death. Canadians consider the matter settled and want to move on.


RE-OPENING THE EQUAL MARRIAGE DEBATE IS POINTLESS

- Voting to re-open equal marriage would lead Canada down another long and expensive road of court challenges, and inevitably back to where we are now – full marriage equality.

- Courts have been clear that excluding same-sex couples from civil marriage violates the Charter. The only way to take away equal marriage is to use the Notwithstanding Clause, and Prime Minister Harper stated during the election debates that he would not use the Notwithstanding Clause on this issue.

- According to a consensus of 104 law professors, for Parliament to pass a law that “is almost certainly unconstitutional and then leave it to the courts to clean up the mess… would be untenable and irresponsible”.


RE-OPENING EQUAL MARRIAGE ISN'T FAIR

- This is a human rights issue, and it's been settled.

- After repeated court decisions and years of public debate, Parliament decided. Thousands of same-sex couples are legally married. Many more are planning their weddings.

- Lesbian, gay, bi and trans people are finally treated as full citizens under federal law. They shouldn’t have to endure another lengthy debate about their rights and their lives. No minority should.