Conservatives | Elections
Is there a third choice? Or I guess a forth.... I still can't vote NDP.
The following are news items posted on CBC NEWS ONLINE
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THOUSANDS PROTEST SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL
OTTAWA---Thousands of people who oppose same-sex marriage rallied on Parliament Hill Saturday, cheering as Conservative Leader Stephen Harper pledged to support the traditional definition of the union. "I am committed, when I am elected prime minister; at the next election, whenever that may be, to bring in legislation that will define marriage as the union of one man and one woman," Harper said.
About 15,000 demonstrators, including many people who travelled from Toronto and Montreal, gathered to protest against Bill C-38, federal legislation that would extend civil marriage to same-sex couples.
The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin drafted the bill after courts in many provinces ruled that keeping gay couples from marrying violated their equality rights under the Charter. But the proposed law hasn't gone over well with a number of Canadians; including most of the people who gathered Saturday in a demonstration that was part protest, part parade and part prayer service. Some carried signs with the image of the late Roman Catholic leader Pope John Paul II, while others carried signs with slogans such as "God defined marriage, the government defies God."
"I'm here because I agree with the normal definition of marriage," said protester Oliver Locke.
Fay Chow, who came with hundreds of Chinese-Canadians from Toronto, agreed. "We want all the members of Parliament to know how the majority of Canadians feel about marriage."
Harper told the crowd that all but four Conservative MPs support the traditional definition of marriage.
"Marriage belongs to us, not Paul Martin, and we will defend it," said Conservative MP Jason Kenney.
A small but vocal group at the rally supported same-sex unions. "This is an issue for all Canadians about equality according to the Charter," said Prudence Craib.
Harper has introduced an amendment to Bill C-38 that would reverse the intent of the act by specifying that marriage must continue to be defined as a union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. Parliament is to vote on the amendment on Tuesday. A number of rallies, both in support of and in opposition to same-sex marriage, are planned in cities across the country before that vote.
Copyright (C) 2005 CBC. All rights reserved.
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ELECTION TALK HEATS UP OVER GOMERY BOMBSHELLS
OTTAWA --- Neither of Canada's two main opposition parties will rule out forcing a federal election this week, as the Liberals reel from damaging testimony at the public inquiry into the sponsorship program.
Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe says his party is still evaluating its options as it decides whether to introduce a non-confidence motion during budget debate Thursday. "The question is, does the government still have the confidence of the population?" Duceppe said on the weekend. "In Quebec, it's very clear it's not the case, so we'll see if it is the case in the rest of Canada."
Even before the Bloc has a chance to introduce its motion, the Liberals must survive their own budget implementation motion on Tuesday, so there are two chances for Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government to fall. If the Bloc decides to move against the government on Thursday, Conservative MP Jason Kenney says his party would help the Liberals vote down the motion.
"We're not going to let the separatists control the timing of the next election," he said.
But the Conservatives would reserve the right to move a non-confidence motion of their own against the Liberals soon afterward, Kenney added.
Canadians last went to the polls less than a year ago, on June 28, 2004.
Copyright (C) 2005 CBC. All rights reserved.
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POLLS SHOW LIBERAL SUPPORT DROPPING
OTTAWA --- Election fever may be fed by poll results released Monday in the Toronto Star. The EKOS Research Associates survey was conducted after Thursday's release of evidence from the Gomery inquiry suggested an ad firm in Quebec made big donations to the Liberal party and hired Liberal supporters in return for government contracts. EKOS said the Liberals have 25 per cent support among polled Canadians, compared to 36.2 per cent for Stephen Harper's Conservatives and 20.5 per cent for Jack Layton's New Democratic Party.
The Bloc, which fields candidates only in Quebec, has 12.5 per cent support. Martin's Liberals had 40 per cent support in an EKOS poll conducted in February. The latest survey of 1,125 adults is considered accurate to within 2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Copyright (C) 2005 CBC. All rights reserved.
The following are news items posted on CBC NEWS ONLINE
____________________________________________________
THOUSANDS PROTEST SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL
OTTAWA---Thousands of people who oppose same-sex marriage rallied on Parliament Hill Saturday, cheering as Conservative Leader Stephen Harper pledged to support the traditional definition of the union. "I am committed, when I am elected prime minister; at the next election, whenever that may be, to bring in legislation that will define marriage as the union of one man and one woman," Harper said.
About 15,000 demonstrators, including many people who travelled from Toronto and Montreal, gathered to protest against Bill C-38, federal legislation that would extend civil marriage to same-sex couples.
The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin drafted the bill after courts in many provinces ruled that keeping gay couples from marrying violated their equality rights under the Charter. But the proposed law hasn't gone over well with a number of Canadians; including most of the people who gathered Saturday in a demonstration that was part protest, part parade and part prayer service. Some carried signs with the image of the late Roman Catholic leader Pope John Paul II, while others carried signs with slogans such as "God defined marriage, the government defies God."
"I'm here because I agree with the normal definition of marriage," said protester Oliver Locke.
Fay Chow, who came with hundreds of Chinese-Canadians from Toronto, agreed. "We want all the members of Parliament to know how the majority of Canadians feel about marriage."
Harper told the crowd that all but four Conservative MPs support the traditional definition of marriage.
"Marriage belongs to us, not Paul Martin, and we will defend it," said Conservative MP Jason Kenney.
A small but vocal group at the rally supported same-sex unions. "This is an issue for all Canadians about equality according to the Charter," said Prudence Craib.
Harper has introduced an amendment to Bill C-38 that would reverse the intent of the act by specifying that marriage must continue to be defined as a union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. Parliament is to vote on the amendment on Tuesday. A number of rallies, both in support of and in opposition to same-sex marriage, are planned in cities across the country before that vote.
Copyright (C) 2005 CBC. All rights reserved.
____________________________________________________
ELECTION TALK HEATS UP OVER GOMERY BOMBSHELLS
OTTAWA --- Neither of Canada's two main opposition parties will rule out forcing a federal election this week, as the Liberals reel from damaging testimony at the public inquiry into the sponsorship program.
Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe says his party is still evaluating its options as it decides whether to introduce a non-confidence motion during budget debate Thursday. "The question is, does the government still have the confidence of the population?" Duceppe said on the weekend. "In Quebec, it's very clear it's not the case, so we'll see if it is the case in the rest of Canada."
Even before the Bloc has a chance to introduce its motion, the Liberals must survive their own budget implementation motion on Tuesday, so there are two chances for Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government to fall. If the Bloc decides to move against the government on Thursday, Conservative MP Jason Kenney says his party would help the Liberals vote down the motion.
"We're not going to let the separatists control the timing of the next election," he said.
But the Conservatives would reserve the right to move a non-confidence motion of their own against the Liberals soon afterward, Kenney added.
Canadians last went to the polls less than a year ago, on June 28, 2004.
Copyright (C) 2005 CBC. All rights reserved.
____________________________________________________
POLLS SHOW LIBERAL SUPPORT DROPPING
OTTAWA --- Election fever may be fed by poll results released Monday in the Toronto Star. The EKOS Research Associates survey was conducted after Thursday's release of evidence from the Gomery inquiry suggested an ad firm in Quebec made big donations to the Liberal party and hired Liberal supporters in return for government contracts. EKOS said the Liberals have 25 per cent support among polled Canadians, compared to 36.2 per cent for Stephen Harper's Conservatives and 20.5 per cent for Jack Layton's New Democratic Party.
The Bloc, which fields candidates only in Quebec, has 12.5 per cent support. Martin's Liberals had 40 per cent support in an EKOS poll conducted in February. The latest survey of 1,125 adults is considered accurate to within 2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Copyright (C) 2005 CBC. All rights reserved.
