Martin becomes prime minister

[Tripper11]

It's official now...

OTTAWA - Paul Martin has become Canada's 21st prime minister on Friday morning, bringing with him a new cabinet that includes western Canadians in key positions.

He and his cabinet choices arrived at Rideau Hall where Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson was to swear the new government into office.

Before the ceremony, Edmonton's Anne McLellan told reporters outside Rideau Hall she was to be deputy prime minister and in charge of a new public security department.



http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/12/12/martin_cab031212

[Tommy_Douglas]

1. All hail King Martin!

At least he's better then Bush... Well he's much, much, better then Bush, but what isn't?

[David__77]

2. He better not backtrack on marriage rights.

He's making noises about backtracking on same-sex marriage rights--that's completely unacceptable, and in fact against the wished of the majority of his party and the country.

[Spazito]

6. The question on same-sex marriages has been taken out of the..

hands of the politicians and is in the hands of our Supreme Court which has ruled that, according to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, any effort to ban same-sex marriages is in contravention of said Charter.

[David__77]

7. Yes, but there is still the question...

will the Prime Minister actively support same-gender marriage rights. This is an important political question. It is much better not to duck responsibility. I don't understand, especially if indeed a plurality favors marriage rights.

[Spazito]

8. I don't think he will be a vocal proponent, given what little he has

said in this regard but he will uphold the decisions of the Supreme Court which is the important issue. British Columbia and Ontario are already upholding the Court's decision and I expect all the other provinces to follow suit, they really have no choice.

Will Martin or the Liberals push for church marriages? No, I don't forsee that. My take on it is that it will be the various churches that will decide one way or the other on that issue.

[glarius]

9. Don't you think it is proper that churches decide for themselves if they

will perform these marriages?....I'm in favour of the law for same-sex marriages but I think forcing churches to go against their beliefs in this manner would be government interfering in church affairs....:)

[Spazito]

11. Totally agree!

The marriage issue, to me, is just the right-wing's way of making it an issue politically. I honestly believe that once same-sex unions become as accepted as hetero-sex unions the marriage question will be moot.

[David__77]

12. Are they forces to perform inter-racial marriages?

The same rules should apply. I understand that in the US, no church may be forced to perform interracial marriages, but that they may risk their tax-exempt status.

[Holly]

10. I agree

Spazito's correct IMO. This is out of Martin's hands. They'll be a lot of debate back and forth, but in the end banning same-sex marriage is a violation of the Charter. I'm predicting a close vote, but it will pass. Like abortion rights, opponents will learn to accept same-sex marriage. I do see it as a divisive issue that will negatively affect the United Right. No matter where you stand on this issue, Canadian's will not accept religious interference into the legislative process.

[glarius]

3. I like the added ceremony with the Native Canadian purification ceremony

I'm watching the ceremonies right now....The swearing in of the new Cabinet Ministers is going on now.....I liked the new touch Martin added at the beginning, before his swearing in....He had an elder of one of the first nations tribes perform what is called a "purification ceremony." The elder did symbolic gestures over and around Mr. Martin, with a white feather and smoke from a container of burning grasses....I hope it is a good sign!

[jmcgowanjm]

4. Thank you,Canada, for being there for US

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/wed/news/news_1n10drugs.html

[glarius]

5. You're welcome....I wish Bush saw it the same way!

We'll no doubt be punished in some way for selling you these drugs...Someone from the U.S.A. government was in Ottawa a couple of weeks ago, more or less demanding that our government not allow the drug sales to continue....I believe our reponse was that it was up to the American Government to administer it's own laws....