Webruary
06-06-2005, 08:27 PM
Gay marriage support could doom Canada's ruling party (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1417811/posts)
<small>
CNN ^ (http://www.freerepublic.com/%5Ehttp://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/06/06/canada.politics.reut/index.html) | Monday, June 6, 2005</small>
OTTAWA, Ontario (Reuters) -- A member of Canada's minority Liberal government unexpectedly quit the party on Monday over plans to legalize gay marriage, and said he would be willing to bring the government down if necessary.
The balance of power is so finely divided in Parliament that the single vote of Pat O'Brien, who will now sit as an independent, could tip the country into an early election if the government loses a confidence vote.
"I will use every opportunity I have to use -- bar none -- in order to defeat this legislation," O'Brien told a news conference shortly after informing Prime Minister Paul Martin he was leaving the party.
His departure spells more bad news for Martin, who survived a tense confidence motion last month by just a single vote.
The opposition Conservative Party and the separatist Bloc Quebecois pressed hard in May to force a new election as the government's popularity eroded under allegations of kickbacks to the Liberal Party in return for rich government advertising contracts in Quebec.
But the Conservatives once again trail the Liberals in many polls, and it is not clear they want an election at this time.
"It's an interesting development. We'll take a look at it," Conservative spokesman Geoff Norquay said. "Let's take the urgency out of this."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/06/06/canada.politics.reut/index.html) ...
<small>
CNN ^ (http://www.freerepublic.com/%5Ehttp://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/06/06/canada.politics.reut/index.html) | Monday, June 6, 2005</small>
OTTAWA, Ontario (Reuters) -- A member of Canada's minority Liberal government unexpectedly quit the party on Monday over plans to legalize gay marriage, and said he would be willing to bring the government down if necessary.
The balance of power is so finely divided in Parliament that the single vote of Pat O'Brien, who will now sit as an independent, could tip the country into an early election if the government loses a confidence vote.
"I will use every opportunity I have to use -- bar none -- in order to defeat this legislation," O'Brien told a news conference shortly after informing Prime Minister Paul Martin he was leaving the party.
His departure spells more bad news for Martin, who survived a tense confidence motion last month by just a single vote.
The opposition Conservative Party and the separatist Bloc Quebecois pressed hard in May to force a new election as the government's popularity eroded under allegations of kickbacks to the Liberal Party in return for rich government advertising contracts in Quebec.
But the Conservatives once again trail the Liberals in many polls, and it is not clear they want an election at this time.
"It's an interesting development. We'll take a look at it," Conservative spokesman Geoff Norquay said. "Let's take the urgency out of this."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/06/06/canada.politics.reut/index.html) ...