Canada Still in the Club

Let's Review what just went on:

1. Equal marriage has always been a right. It was a right that was suppressed by our governments for a long time.

2. In 2003, Ontarian courts realized that we all had the right to get married.

3. 2005, and the issue has hit Parliament. Although then-Prime-Minister Paul Martin spoke in favour of upholding Charter rights, he was callous enough to allow his party (save Cabinet) to vote freely on the issue (the Conservative party had a likewise free vote). Thanks, Paul, for leaving my rights to be decided at the whims of your backbenchers. Taking a stand isn't taking a stand unless you take a stand.

By 2005, 28 million Canadians already lived in jurisdictions where their rights to equal marriage were acknowledged legally. In the Summer of that year, Parliament acknowledged that all 31 million of us had the same marital rights, and the Queen, through her Governor General, was gracious enough to agree.

4. In 2006, now-Prime-Minister Stephen Harper's party introduces a wishy-washy motion to revisit the issue. It is widely acknowledged that the motion won't carry. It is also widely acknowledged that Mr Harper isn't interested in the motion; it's merely a nod to the frightening bigots who elected him. The last thing the Conservatives want in their imminent campaigning is talk of the Gays.

So, if he introduces the motion, it looks like he cares about the bigoted craziness his supporters care about. And if he loses the motion, he gets to wash his hands of the whole thing.

5. Stéphane Dion, new leader of the Liberals, follows in Mr Martin's footsteps and allows his MPs to vote freely. He says that the Conservatives are "attacking" the Charter, but he doesn't seem to interested in rising to its defence. See above re.: stand-taking. He says that it's clear the motion won't carry, so he might as well let the backbenchers try to trample on rights if they feel like it.

6. The motion doesn't carry. Was this a waste of time? Not looked at like this: it's more and more clear to all of us now, how disingenuous and uncaring Canada's two major right-wing parties (i.e.: the Liberals and the Conservatives) are.