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Zilos

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said on Friday he was prepared to fight an election over the issue of same-sex marriage, but his office insisted the comments did not mean he intended to call an election if legislation legalizing same-sex marriage fails.

However, Martin spokesman Marc Roy said the prime minister could trigger an election if Parliament passed a resolution directing him to override lower court decisions that made gay marriage legal in seven of Canada's 10 provinces and one northern territory.

Martin made his remarks to reporters in Beijing, when asked whether he would call an election over gay marriage.

"It is not my intention to go into an election. We are there to govern, and I want to continue," he said in French.

"But if the question you're asking is, am I ready to go into an election to support the Charter of Rights against those who want to attack it, the answer is absolutely yes."

Roy said the planned legislation to legalize same-sex unions nationally would remain a free vote for Liberal members of Parliament outside the cabinet, but that ministers were required to support the bill.

He also said the bill would not be considered a matter of confidence that could bring down Martin's minority government.

"The prime minister is not contemplating an election over the issue," Roy said. "It's not a matter of confidence."

However he added that it would be a matter of confidence if there were a vote to return to a ban on gay marriage by using the "notwithstanding clause" in the Charter of Rights, a move that allows governments to override the courts.

"If there was a motion to use the notwithstanding clause to deny rights that seven provinces and a territory have already been recognized to have, of course the prime minister would make it a matter of confidence," Roy said.

"The consequences of losing such a thing would be going to the polls."

Conservative leader Stephen Harper, who launched an ad campaign this week against the planned legislation, quickly issued a news release saying he was ready to join battle with Martin over the issue in an election.

"I thought Mr. Martin had an agenda that he was planning to legislate, but if he wants to call an election on this issue, so be it. I am confident that our position on this issue is supported by a majority of Canadians," Harper said.

The prime minister lost the Liberals' majority in the federal election last June and the party has not had a bounce in the polls that would enable him to call another vote with any confidence of regaining a majority. The Conservatives have not moved up in the polls either.

Zilos-note: Gay marriage is gonna be completely legal in Canada it seems. Which I myself am for, for the reason that they should not be denied it. Who are we to say they can't?? And it's good to see our Prime Minister is willing to stand up for gay rights, no matter how much opposition there is.

Im sure lots feel differently however.

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Higher Logic

Way to go Canada. Yet another step ahead in the "right" thing to do. American keeps falling backwards on just about every issue it seems nowadays: war, gay/lesbian rights, marijuana, etc.

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