Same-sex ruling due close to poll
Court decision could be major election issue
http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/story.asp?id=1DBF34CC-9363-4516-9892-6D9D98139BA0
Janice Tibbetts
CanWest News Service
Saturday, August 30, 2003
The Supreme Court of Canada has tentatively set aside next April 16 to hear arguments on whether gays and lesbians can legally marry, potentially putting the divisive issue fresh on the minds of voters if a federal election is called next spring.
And there were more signs Friday that same-sex marriage will erupt as a ballot box issue.
A coalition of religious groups said it plans to take aim at individual federal politicians the organizations believe are vulnerable to electoral defeat if they vote for same-sex marriage.
The coalition will hold a news conference Tuesday to name about 30 southern Ontario MPs who they will target for supporting gay marriage.
The list includes Defence Minister John McCallum and MPs Carolyn Parrish and Bonnie Brown, all of whom represent Greater Toronto-area voters.
"We believe their constituents do not want them to support it and we believe they can be defeated in the next election," said spokesman Charles McVety, president of the Canada Christian College in Toronto.
McVety said religious groups will hold rallies and pray in as many as possible of Canada's 301 federal ridings Sunday, Sept. 7.
Most provinces say they will stay out of the landmark court battle, with only three -- led by Alberta -- planning to use their automatic right to intervene.
Premier Ralph Klein has said Alberta would use the "notwithstanding clause" to block same-sex marriages in the province, if necessary.
In Alberta's Marriage Act, the notwithstanding clause -- a provision of the Charter of Rights which allows provinces to be exempted for 10 years from a court ruling -- was invoked to enshrine the definition of marriage as a heterosexual coupling.
British Columbia and Quebec also served notice by Friday's deadline that they want to present arguments when the nine judges consider a federal bill that legalizes same-sex marriage but allows religious institutions the right to refuse to perform ceremonies.
Alberta, which has warned it will do everything in its power to prevent gay marriage, will be the only province to oppose the legislation.
Quebec will remain neutral, but the province wants to appear to ensure that it will retain responsibility for marriage licensing and the particulars of the marriage ceremony, said Jacques Tetreault, a spokesman for Justice Minister Marc Bellemare.
B.C. is expected to take a similar position, but it is still formulating its stand.
A single judge will decide on the other intervenors, who have until about mid-October to apply for status.
Although several are expected to participate, their time allotment will be limited and some may only be permitted to submit written arguments rather than appearing before the court.
The hearing is tentatively booked for one day, unlike the reference on the legality of Quebec unilaterally seceding from Canada that took a full week in 1998. A provincial challenge to the federal firearms registry was held over two days in 2000.
An Alberta political scientist predicted the timing and duration of the hearing is good news for Liberal leadership hopeful Paul Martin, who could call an election for late spring, after the quick one-day hearing has faded from voters' minds and long before the Supreme Court will likely hand down its opinion.
"If you're Paul Martin, you don't want this to explode in your face during an election campaign," said David Taras, of the University of Calgary.
Taras speculated the nine judges on the Supreme Court of Canada do not want to draw out the arguments in their court and are therefore holding a short hearing that he said will be "efficient and contained."
© Copyright 2003 Calgary Herald
Court decision could be major election issue
http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/story.asp?id=1DBF34CC-9363-4516-9892-6D9D98139BA0
Janice Tibbetts
CanWest News Service
Saturday, August 30, 2003
The Supreme Court of Canada has tentatively set aside next April 16 to hear arguments on whether gays and lesbians can legally marry, potentially putting the divisive issue fresh on the minds of voters if a federal election is called next spring.
And there were more signs Friday that same-sex marriage will erupt as a ballot box issue.
A coalition of religious groups said it plans to take aim at individual federal politicians the organizations believe are vulnerable to electoral defeat if they vote for same-sex marriage.
The coalition will hold a news conference Tuesday to name about 30 southern Ontario MPs who they will target for supporting gay marriage.
The list includes Defence Minister John McCallum and MPs Carolyn Parrish and Bonnie Brown, all of whom represent Greater Toronto-area voters.
"We believe their constituents do not want them to support it and we believe they can be defeated in the next election," said spokesman Charles McVety, president of the Canada Christian College in Toronto.
McVety said religious groups will hold rallies and pray in as many as possible of Canada's 301 federal ridings Sunday, Sept. 7.
Most provinces say they will stay out of the landmark court battle, with only three -- led by Alberta -- planning to use their automatic right to intervene.
Premier Ralph Klein has said Alberta would use the "notwithstanding clause" to block same-sex marriages in the province, if necessary.
In Alberta's Marriage Act, the notwithstanding clause -- a provision of the Charter of Rights which allows provinces to be exempted for 10 years from a court ruling -- was invoked to enshrine the definition of marriage as a heterosexual coupling.
British Columbia and Quebec also served notice by Friday's deadline that they want to present arguments when the nine judges consider a federal bill that legalizes same-sex marriage but allows religious institutions the right to refuse to perform ceremonies.
Alberta, which has warned it will do everything in its power to prevent gay marriage, will be the only province to oppose the legislation.
Quebec will remain neutral, but the province wants to appear to ensure that it will retain responsibility for marriage licensing and the particulars of the marriage ceremony, said Jacques Tetreault, a spokesman for Justice Minister Marc Bellemare.
B.C. is expected to take a similar position, but it is still formulating its stand.
A single judge will decide on the other intervenors, who have until about mid-October to apply for status.
Although several are expected to participate, their time allotment will be limited and some may only be permitted to submit written arguments rather than appearing before the court.
The hearing is tentatively booked for one day, unlike the reference on the legality of Quebec unilaterally seceding from Canada that took a full week in 1998. A provincial challenge to the federal firearms registry was held over two days in 2000.
An Alberta political scientist predicted the timing and duration of the hearing is good news for Liberal leadership hopeful Paul Martin, who could call an election for late spring, after the quick one-day hearing has faded from voters' minds and long before the Supreme Court will likely hand down its opinion.
"If you're Paul Martin, you don't want this to explode in your face during an election campaign," said David Taras, of the University of Calgary.
Taras speculated the nine judges on the Supreme Court of Canada do not want to draw out the arguments in their court and are therefore holding a short hearing that he said will be "efficient and contained."
© Copyright 2003 Calgary Herald