MPs vote down Alliance motion to preserve traditional definition of marriage

One of the most divisive issues currently being debated in Canadian politics is same-sex marriage:

Text of an amendment to the Alliance motion which lost by a vote of 137-132 in the Commons on Tuesday:

That, in the opinion of this House, it is necessary, in light of public debate around recent court decisions, to reaffirm that marriage is and should remain the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

Results of the House of Commons vote Tuesday on the following Canadian Alliance motion, which was defeated:

"That, in the opinion of this House, it is necessary, in light of public debate around recent court decisions, to reaffirm that marriage is and should remain the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, and that Parliament take all necessary steps within the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada to preserve this definition of marriage in Canada."

To give you an idea of how same-sex marriage is viewed by the Canadian Alliance leader, Stephen Harper, here's a quote: "Regarding sexual orientation or, more accurately, what we are really talking about, sexual behaviour, the argument has been made... that this is analogous to race and ethnicity... (For) anyone in the Liberal party to equate the traditional definition of marriage with segregation and apartheid is vile and disgusting."

In my view, if reference to sexual behaviour is all Stephen Harper can point to when he defines marriage, we should interview his wife, too... the moment we start legislating private matters is the day I no longer want to be part of this national identity. Conservatives like Harper think this ruling is a slippery slope, but I think it's progress rather than declension. Our guiding principle as a nation should be to protect personal freedoms within the framework of national interests, but how the Canadian Alliance or others in opposition to the ruling can argue that marriage between same-sex partner infringes upon the freedom of others is, to me, inscrutable.

New Democrat MP Libby Davies: "Nobody is forcing the leader of the Canadian Alliance to marry a man if he doesn't want to... I think this motion does display a very homophobic attitude."