CANADA UNVEILS EXPLOSIVE GAY MARRIAGE LEGISLATION: From Reuters

Canada's minority government unveiled draft legislation to permit gay marriage on Tuesday, taking a political gamble on a social issue that has split the country and the ruling Liberal Party.

Prime Minister Paul Martin says Ottawa had to act after courts in seven of the country's 10 provinces ruled in favor of same-sex marriages. To do nothing, he argued, would mean gays and lesbians were being discriminated against in the remaining three provinces.

But church groups and the main opposition Conservative Party, which have both suggested that a law on gay marriage could one day lead to the legalization of polygamy, say they will do all they can to defeat the bill.

If the bill is approved Canada would become the third country in the world after Belgium and Holland to permit same sex marriages. ...

A poll of all 308 members of Parliament in Tuesday's Globe and Mail newspaper showed that 139 legislators backed the bill, 118 opposed it and 49 were undecided. Almost 30 Liberals say they will vote against.

Despite this, initial estimates suggest that the Liberals -- backed by two minority left-leaning parties -- will gain the bare majority needed to pass the measure.

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posted by Eve at 2:36 PM VOTE

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