From Google News via Colleen Keating….
Whatever alterations those poor Manitobans are undergoing, it sounds painful.
C
From Google News via Colleen Keating….
Whatever alterations those poor Manitobans are undergoing, it sounds painful.
They have nothing to worry about. Same-sex marriage is a done deal.
The conservatives only have a minority government and it will be kept on a tight leash by all opposition parties, whom all support same-sex marriage.
Also, over 50% of the people who voted conservative, voted for a change of government, rather than wanting a conservative government. The Liberal Party of Canada has been in power for more than 12 years and people were just getting tired of the same people in power.
Even if the conservatives won a majority, they would still not be able to ban same-sex marriage of a number of legal reasons.
Xeno said “Even if the conservatives won a majority, they would still not be able to ban same-sex marriage of a number of legal reasons.”
Xeno, some 130 odd Canadian constitutional lawyers have said that Harper and the Conservative government would need to use the “Notwithstanding” clause to overturn lower court rulings in several provinces that have eliminated gender discrimination in marriage. Contrary to what the legal scholars say Harper claims he won’t have to use the notwithstanding clause because if a free vote on man/woman/discriminatory marriage is passed the supreme court will respect parliament’s wishes and not overturn the new law. Of course the courts cannot overlook the constitution just because the conservatives government wishes it too.
Pundits say and I agree that Harper’s pledge not to use the notwithstanding clause “on this issue” is a disingenuous ploy. He won’t use it initially after a free vote presumably repeals equal marriage for same sex couples. Later, when as he knows they must, the courts strike down the new law he’ll claim he kept his promise and did not use the notwithstanding clause on gay marriage. He’ll then say we are now confronted with a new issue, should parliament or the courts have the final say on the law of the land? He’ll then say parliament must, the courts are activist and he must then use the notwithstanding clause to settle this new issue in favour of parliament having the final say in its new discriminatory anti-gay marriage law.
Over 70% of Conservative candidates have said they would favour using the notwithstanding clause to give parliament final say over the courts. I am tremendously relieved they’ve been held to a minority government, I was actually feeling physically ill just before the election with polls showing a possible Conservative majority government. Without the majority they’re not going to be in a position to get their anti-gay law through. Hopefully in 18 months or so a new election will result in a Liberal or if I have my way an NDP government.
I think the point of the post was the consistent misspelling of “altar” as “alter”. Two very different words with two very different meanings, but one funny juxtaposition.