Defend Marriage - Canada
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:05 am
I am big on Defending Marriage as an Institution between a Man and Woman. I believe Canada is in a Crisis and the Governement needs prayer to make the right decision on this
What does everyone think?Round One in the Fight to Defend Marriage--
The Most Critical Rounds Yet to Come!
Dear Defender of Marriage:
The vote Tuesday on the Conservative Party's proposed amendment on the government's bill, C-38, which would legalize same sex marriage in Canada, was round one in the fight to defend the institution of marriage which is so critical to our future.
This amendment would have inserted the definition of traditional marriage into the bill thereby making it an affirmation of traditional marriage in Canada. It was defeated by a vote of 164 to 132.
Even though adoption of the amendment was considered highly unlikely, this was an important and encouraging vote in several respects. First, of course, is that a shift of only 17 votes would have meant a major victory for marriage. Given the context of the vote, picking up that much support is well within what is “doable” on third reading, when the bill would be sent on to the Senate, if not on the second reading vote next week.
One of the major advantages for us is that this is the first substantive vote on defending marriage in this Parliament. We now know with some certainty where many MPs stand on the marriage issue. This means that we know who needs additional contact from their constituents to convince them to continue to oppose the government's bill or come on side, as the case may be.
On the other hand, it is essential to keep in mind that those who seek to destroy marriage also now have this same information. Some MPs who our opponents think they can convert will be under even more intense pressure than they have been up to now. This is why it is essential that those who voted for the amendment also hear expressions of appreciation and support from their constituents.
In putting this vote in context, it also is important to understand that while some three dozen Liberals and a handful of Bloc members voted for the Conservative amendment, this was an amendment offered by the opposition. That creates a somewhat different dynamic than would a vote purely on the substance of a bill. Whether to buck one's party on the vote and support an opposition amendment was certainly a factor for some MPs who support traditional marriage. I am confident that on the final vote, at least some additional MPs who are opposed to the government's bill—or are close to being convinced to oppose it--will ultimately vote with us.
How many are in that category? Will it be enough to win? While no one can know for sure, one thing that is certain is that this number depends largely on people like you and tens of thousands of other Canadians. If enough constituents of these “swing vote” MPs let them know clearly and emphatically enough and in large enough numbers that they want them to defend marriage, we can find the 17 or so votes to defeat this bill.
One additional factor in analyzing this vote is the increasing likelihood that the government will fall as a result of the serious corruption being uncovered by the Gomery Commission. Both the Liberals and Conservatives now reportedly are preparing for an election that could be called this spring.
If it is called before the House of Commons finishes consideration of C-38, as appears increasingly likely, the bill will die. The marriage issue, however, will likely be a major election issue. One of the values of putting so many MPs on record on marriage in the vote on the Conservative's amendment is that their constituents will be able to consider their stand on marriage in deciding whether to vote them back into office.
Even if an election is not called before the third reading vote on C-38, the virtual certainty that an election is likely coming sooner rather than later should still have a sobering effect on at least some MPs. They know now that their vote on passage of C-38 would still be fresh in their constituent's minds when they stand for re-election. That should make some of them more persuadable on this issue.
Please take a minute and look at how your MP voted on this amendment. Then, contact them and either thank them for their support of marriage or urge them to defend marriage in Canada by voting against C-38 on second reading next week.
Also, please forward this newsletter on to as many others as you can to help spread the word.
Thank you for all that you are doing to defend marriage in Canada!
Sincerely,
Hon. Dr. Grant Hill, P.C.
Coordinator, Defend Marriage Canada Project