nine abstentions, actually, plus the speaker. there are 308 seats in the house.
the numbers in the analyses I've seen aren't completely consistent, but the latest ones (where they've had more time to check) are 12 tories voting against the party (ie pro gay marriage) and 14 liberals voting against marriage = pro hetero-only definition. That includes Peter Mackay (foreign affairs) against, and (whozit) the former Lib cabinet minister, who quit cabinet to vote against Bill C38 last time, today voted against the motion.
He said what I was reading again and again in the comments of newspaper columns -- this has been decided, its time to move on. and even the PM said this afternoon that he didn't see re-opening the issue now. There have been marriages for over 3 years now, over 12,000 of them, and the sun coming up in the east bang on time every day since has really helped our cause, methinks.
the Equal Marriage website pointed out that there have now been three parliamentary debates, in three separate parliaments, with three prime ministers, on the same question. in September 2003, motion for 'traditional' marriages (from the then leader of the opposition, Steven Harper) was defeated 137-132. Then in June 2005, bill C38 passed 158-133. And now, the motion to re-visit was defeated 175-123. The majorities are growing. Third time lucky, I hope.
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3 times the charm
Date: 2006-12-08 01:18 am (UTC)the numbers in the analyses I've seen aren't completely consistent, but the latest ones (where they've had more time to check) are 12 tories voting against the party (ie pro gay marriage) and 14 liberals voting against marriage = pro hetero-only definition. That includes Peter Mackay (foreign affairs) against, and (whozit) the former Lib cabinet minister, who quit cabinet to vote against Bill C38 last time, today voted against the motion.
He said what I was reading again and again in the comments of newspaper columns -- this has been decided, its time to move on. and even the PM said this afternoon that he didn't see re-opening the issue now. There have been marriages for over 3 years now, over 12,000 of them, and the sun coming up in the east bang on time every day since has really helped our cause, methinks.
the Equal Marriage website pointed out that there have now been three parliamentary debates, in three separate parliaments, with three prime ministers, on the same question. in September 2003, motion for 'traditional' marriages (from the then leader of the opposition, Steven Harper) was defeated 137-132. Then in June 2005, bill C38 passed 158-133. And now, the motion to re-visit was defeated 175-123. The majorities are growing. Third time lucky, I hope.