Vellacott again
traditional, heterosexual
marriage For Immediate
Release
December 7,
2006 OTTAWA
– Canada’s Conservative Government has followed through on its
commitment to hold a free vote on revisiting the definition of marriage. The
motion was: “That this House call on the government to introduce legislation to
restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions
and while respecting existing same-sex marriages.” Saskatoon-Wanuskewin MP Maurice Vellacott and 122 like-minded
colleagues voted for the motion and 175 voted against. Vellacott is disappointed
with the outcome of the vote. Only 13 of the 102 Liberal Members of Parliament
voted for restoring the traditional definition of marriage. All the NDP Members
of Parliament voted against restoring the traditional, heterosexual definition
of marriage. Last night,
during the debate, Vellacott posed the question to recent Liberal Party
leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff: No doubt he
is aware of the fact that in another country, in fact the country in which
the Liberal leader [Stéphane Dion] also has citizenship, the country of
France no less – he has citizenship here, he has citizenship there – they
have what they call Pacte de solidarité. It did not change the
meaning of marriage. It did not tamper with [marriage], but it had this
other registration that could be done for people in a homosexual
relationship and various other relationships as well. [France] drew some
rather different conclusions and came to a rather different acceptable
result, honouring and safeguarding the rights of all French citizens. I
would ask respectfully of the Member whether or not he agrees with that
approach, the approach in fact that is taken by a country which is near and
dear to the hearts of many people in this place, and in fact a country in
which the Liberal leader is a citizen as well. Vellacott
believes the motion was a reasonable approach to moving the debate forward.
Vellacott will continue to promote and extol the values of one-man/one-woman
marriage and the natural family for the sake of his children and grandchildren
and the well-being of Canadian society. –
30 – For further
comment, call (613) 992-1966 or 297-2249