Federal Election - Parties positions on GLBT issues
Submitted by Rick on Thu, 06/17/2004 - 8:23am.
PrideVision TV
On June 28th, make sure your vote counts.
It is election time in Canada and PrideVision TV feels it is vitally important to understand where the major political parties stand on issues that are close to our GLBT community.
In an effort to help you make an informed decision on June 28th, we sent an identical email to The Liberal Party, The Conservative Party, The Bloc Québécois, The NDP and The Green Party asking what their party platform was regarding GLBT issues.
For the various political party positions check out this link.
Federal Party Positions on GLBT Issues.
On June 28th make your vote count.
Renée Olbert
News Director, PrideVision TV
Conservative response.
The Conservative "response" says it all...
http://www.pridevisiontv.com/prog/news_update.asp
Aesopp
Excellent site. Keep up the good work.
Gay rights activists protest
Toronto Liberal MP's office target of protests
Gay rights activists protest
By ALLISON DUNFIELD
Globe and MailUpdate
Gay rights activists protested outside the office of Toronto Liberal MP Dennis Mills on Saturday, saying they oppose his position on same-sex marriage.
The protesters, including one who held a sign reading: "Dump Dennis" and "Same-sex rights? Same rights" don't want to see Mr. Mills re-elected because he disagrees with changing the traditional definition of marriage.
Mr. Mills, who is competing in a tight battle for his seat in Toronto-Danforth with NDP Leader Jack Layton, told CBC Newsworld outside of his downtown campaign office that he won't change his position on the subject, no matter how much anger is directed at him.
"The essential difference here is they [the activists] feel they would want me to alter the traditional definition of marriage which has traditionally been a marriage recognized between a man and a woman.
'This is something that I have a strong view on," he said, adding that he does not intend to change his opinion.
"I just don't do things for votes. I do things because I feel strongly [about] them," Mr. Mills said.
Same-sex marriage and gay rights have remained key issues throughout the federal election campaign.
During last week's debates, an aggressive Liberal Leader Paul Martinrepeatedly attacked Mr. Harper and put the Conservative Leader on the spot over whether he would use the Constitution's notwithstanding clause if the Supreme Court struck down a law that would take away women's right to choose an abortion, or to override equality rights of gays and lesbians.
Calling the issue of whether gay couples should be able to marry "contentious and complex," Mr. Harper said the question should be up to Parliament — not the courts. "My view is, this is the authority of Parliament and Parliament should simply act."
But a confident Mr. Harper said he favoured the traditional definition of marriage. And he pointed out that Liberal Leader Paul Martin has said he would support using the Constitution's notwithstanding clause to allow churches to opt out of blessing same-sex marriages.
Mr. Layton has said he is in favour of same-sex marriage, as has Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe.
When asked how big of an issue gay marriage is for Mr. Mills' riding and his campaign in general, Mr. Mills replied: "Well, I take all issues that are brought to my attention in the riding seriously.
"Obviously we have a large number of members of the gay community in our riding. I've served the riding over the last 16 years, and quite frankly, many of them have supported me, some still are supporting me, and I consider this to be a serious issue."
Mr. Mills said in the end, the ultimate decision on the issue should be made by Parliament.
"Parliament is the final court of the land and that's where it will be ultimately be decided."
He is running in Toronto-Danforth against Mr. Layton, as well as Green Party Leader Jim Harris and Conservative candidate Loftus Cuddy, brother of Jim Cuddy with the band Blue Rodeo.
With reports from Heather Scoffield and Drew Fagan