Recognition of relationships outside marriage
should fall to provinces, says Harper

OTTAWA - The Canadian Alliance tabled a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons today which, if passed, would affirm the traditional definition of marriage in Canada, and would note that it is the provinces that have the jurisdiction to provide appropriate legal recognition to relationships outside of marriage, including same-sex partnerships. Alliance Leader Stephen Harper said, “The definition of marriage needs to be clarified, and this bill does that. It also recognizes that it is within the constitutional jurisdiction of provinces to provide appropriate recognition to relationships other than marriage. Our party is trying to make sure that democracy isn’t thrown out the window on an important issue of social policy.”

Harper made it clear that the Alliance bill would define marriage for the entire country. “Some provinces have already passed their own legislation to extend recognition to relationships outside marriage, including same-sex partnerships. I support these initiatives,” said Harper.

Harper asserted that the Liberal Party has “bowed down to the courts, and turned over a difficult decision for Parliament to unelected judges. It was deliberate inaction on the part of the Liberals that has allowed us to arrive at today’s absurd situation, with traditional marriage being the law of the land in all but two provinces. With no federal legislation to correct it on the horizon, the Alliance is filling the void.”

Harper pointed out that the Alliance bill stands in sharp contrast to the lack of clarity shown by Liberal leadership frontrunner Paul Martin. “Mr. Martin voted against our motion on Tuesday, but now has indicated that he’s not 100% committed to his government’s legislation either,” said Harper. “If Mr. Martin has any of his own thoughts on how to proceed on this file, he should tell Canadians. We’re not holding our breath waiting.

“We, like the Liberals, made a promise in 1999 to uphold the traditional definition of marriage. We found out, through Tuesday’s vote on the same motion, that the promise didn’t mean very much to the Liberals, even after they campaigned on it in the last election. Our party doesn’t look for excuses, and it doesn’t shy away from past promises.”

The bill, C-447, stands in the name of CA MP Grant Hill (Macleod, AB), with Harper seconding. It received first reading in the House of Commons today.

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Carolyn Stewart Olsen: (613) 297-9479