Same-sex vote set for fall

[CHIMO]

MPs will vote on the contentious issue of same-sex marriage after Parliament returns from its summer break, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday.

“The vote will be in the fall,” he told reporters after a speech to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

He said he has not set an exact date but “it will be a free vote, we committed to that in our platform.”

MPs will vote on a motion asking whether they want to reopen debate on same-sex marriage, said Sandra Buckler, Mr. Harper's communications director. There has been speculation that the Tories might ask MPs to vote directly on the existing legislation.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060603.wharpgalloway0603/BNStory/National/home

Now if I were a Liberal or Bloc strategist I would hope that enough MP's couldn't make the vote (with no pairing of votes with the Conservatives) and hope that the Reform group and the so called old PC'ers have to battle it out.

[HuffleClaw]

1. oh, suuuuure. the asshat wants a 'do-over' ??!!

this has been decided already. what a travishamockery.

[Bassic]

2. It is fucking laughable.

Do they think they will get a different result?

[Mother Jones]

3. What am I missing?

I thought we already learned that, even if the MPs vote to overturn, the Senate will reject it, as being in violation of the charter.


So, what would this do?

Is it only to appease the right wing lunatics? or is that, plus so that Harpey can beat his chest about our "liberal" senators? (to fuel his senate reform)

[Bassic]

4. A little bit from coumn A, and a little bit from column B

I doubt it'll pass though.

[yngliberal]

5. Interesting...

I thought Harper said he wouldn't bring this issue back up.

[MrPrax]

6. Face-Saving

The wingnuts don't have the clout or else they would just have a motion directly--agreeing to open it up for discussion is all the anti-SSM crowd can get it would seem...

OR--

The Tories figure they got the numbers and want a low-key approach in the run up to keep the Pro-SSM forces confused and guessing and then just ram through the two votes without the chance of the 'real' vote gaining any momentum.

I'll go for one...it's a face-saver--even if you are an MP and you have a constituency that is breathing down your neck, you can cop a plea and suggest voting against opening it up for debate on the grounds that there is more to be done and the question has been decided.