True enough, and there was also one NDP MP who opposed it.
But the party position of both the Liberals and the NDP is that same sex marriage is a right, so any members who feel differently have to live with it. On the other hand, it’s the Conservative position that the definition of marriage should remain the same even if a few members disagree.
I think that there’s more of a party-based division than the house of commons would indicate, because I would imagine the majority of NDP and Liberal supporters are in favour of same-sex marriage and the majority of Conservative supporters are against it.
I thought the Conservative position was to allow a free vote on the issue. If the majority agrees with same sex marriage, the Conservatives will accept that.
Yes, but that’s just a roundabout way of opposing same-sex marriage because they know that openly stating it wouldn’t go over well with some voters. This way they could just wait to have a free vote until there are more MPs supporting them in the house.
Or the other way around - it’s a way to allow gay marriage while keeping the ‘base’ happy. It seems to me that a ‘free vote’ would probably pass same sex marriage, wouldn’t it?
It’s still not different in any substantive way from what you said the Liberal and NDP positions were; either way, MPs who support or oppose it just have to live with the way Parliament goes.
There is NO reasonably possible election result scenario, none whatsoever, in which legal same sex marriage will be reversed. Harper knows this. His position is (1) a meaningless sop to the socially conservative base, and (2) an effort to prevent the Liberals from creating an even worse straw man.
That’s not to say I support Harper’s position; I don’t. I am absolutely, fervently pro-SSM, and were I Conservative leader I’d refuse to support any move to vote on it again. I do find it distasteful that he’s even using it as a chip within his party. But let’s not pretend Harper has a real plan to get rid of SSM. He doesn’t.
Looks like you are correct.
Maybe I was confused because of all the talk of decriminalizing a few years back. My apologies.
That being said…
Stephen Harper said that the Liberals will likely decriminalize marijuana, while the NDP would likely legalize it. That is right on the Conservative website. I’m gathering that by using this argument, he is against both ideas. Stephen Harper- “A Conservative government will not reintroduce the Liberal plan to decriminalize the possession of marijuana, and we will never endorse the NDP idea of legalizing it outright.”
This is precisely the opposite way I want Canada to go. There is zero valid reasons to keep marijuana illegal. It’s certainly not a public safety issue, or alcohol and tobacco would certainly be illegal. I can see making meth harder to produce, I can see cracking down on cocaine importation, production, and use. However, his policy on marijuana is just senseless.
No, I can see where you’d get that idea. I was using myself as an example, a single male, lower income earner. Perhaps I didn’t choose my words wisely. I don’t really care about more money. I just think what the Conservatives are offering is quite laughable for lower income earners. As I stated before, I don’t think cutting the GST is good for the economy. I’m also not a huge fan of tax cuts as an election issue. That is because I don’t make “How much money are they going to give me?” an issue when it comes to choosing this country’s leadership. The Conservatives could write me a check for $10,000 and I would still not vote for them. I care about the direction and leadership of this country far more than money.
What is bad about putting religious ideas into running a country? I’m glad you asked. I think basing our laws on anything but reason is dangerous. We shouldn’t be making laws based on what we think offends God. Getting rid of same-sex marriage IS a religious idea. There is no valid reason why homosexuals should not be allowed to marry.
I don’t agree 100% with the Liberals, but when it comes to issues I care about, the only other option is the NDP. It isn’t very likely they will beat out the Conservatives. So unless the Conservatives make some policy changes, they won’t have my vote.
I know you might have some very valid reasons for voting for the Conservatives, but they just aren’t my cup of tea.
Also, thanks for pointing out some of the things I wasn’t aware of. I honestly thought that in Ontario the punishment for possession under a certain amount was a fine instead of a jail term, not a fine and/or jail term! I don’t really have anything to worry about either way though, I don’t use the stuff.
Yes, but even if everyone you know thinks similarily it still probably won’t get anyone elected in Calgary other than a conservative. So, it can’t be as abhorrent as you seem to make it out to be.