Everyone, I do believe this qualifies for a “BOOYAH”.
BOOYAH! rock-music hands
I’m not surprised. This was all a stunt by Harper. Now he gets to tell his anti-gay supporters “Hey, I tried.”
So, this would be the second politically-astute move by Harper in as many weeks? Interesting.
It’s hardly even news. The motion was intended to fail. It would have been politically astute if the intention to fail hadn’t been so obvious, but as it stands I think the religious conservatives for whom this is a significant issue are well aware that Harper hasn’t tried at all. They might not have any other party to turn through, but they’re unlikely to be happy with the government.
My MP appears to have voted for the motion, however. Maybe the third time I get to vote against her will be the charm, but I won’t hold my breath.
Okay, not so politically astute. So why the heck did they even bring it up, then?
Well, it would have been worse if they hadn’t even pretended to try.
Exactly. He promised to hold a vote during the campaign. No one can say he broke that campaign promise now.
My MP, Rob Nicholson (Conservative House Leader), introduced the motion. I can’t wait to vote against him again (for the umpteenth time).
I agree with the others above. This vote might have been politically astute if it hadn’t been so transparently cynical and manipulative. The way I see it, the snap vote was intended to do two things: 1. appease social conservatives by tabling a motion set up to fail and 2. take advantage of the new Liberal leadership’s inexperience and expose divisions within their ranks.
I don’t think either of those aims were accomplished.
As I like to say, when your campaign promise is to be an asshole, keeping such a promise isn’t a virtue.
:: breathes a sigh of releif ::
Now my gay friends can sleep in (possibly-married) peace.
LOL, yes. Now all I need is a bridegroom.
You should pay a few more visits to the Toronto Esperanto club. I am lamenting the lack of (available) women in it… but we have a significant number of gay men! 
(Esperanto attracts non-conformists, iconoclasts, free-thinkers, weirdos, activists, and similar ne’er-do-wells. Of course gay people would feel at home here…)
One important aspect of that motion was that it was NOT a motion to overturn the gay marriage law. It was a motion asking whether parliament should re-visit the gay marriage issue. i.e. if it had passed it would have not had any immediate effect whatsoever on the legality of gay marriage; the conservatives would then have had to draft legislation and then call for a vote on that legislation before anything changed legally.
So, a big old woot for the status quo, eh?
For not overturning the status quo.
Okay, fine, I thought it was good news. The ‘BOOYAH’ still officially stands. 
matt_mcl, you’re charming, witty, and intelligent–you have to try to look for a bridegroom?
And therefore, I cheer for the status quo remaining such.
Yes, he’s one of the people who makes me wish I was gay so I could pursue him. Speaks Esperanto, is an NDPer, is Pagan, has guts, etc, etc. He introduced me to the Dope and Dopefests, too.
Apparently so. 