| No connection between legalizing same-sex marriage and polygamy: Cotler | |
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By John Ward cnews | |
OTTAWA (CP) - While some suggest that a push to legalize polygamy may lurk on the fringes of the same-sex marriage issue, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler says there is no link between the two. "We don't see any connection, I repeat, any connection between the issue of polygamy and the issue of same sex marriage," he said Thursday. "Any attempt to make that kind of connection is simply a way of confusing distinguishable issues in every regard." Earlier in Montreal, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said the traditional definition of marriage should be enshrined in law or Canada could be faced with more radical demands, such as legalizing polygamy. "I hate to say this, but I think you have to draw the line somewhere," he told a news conference. Ottawa is set to introduce same-sex marriage legislation within weeks. Polygamy jumped into the news Thursday with word that Status of Women Canada, a government agency, was seeking research papers on the effects of polygamy. Some concluded the federal government was on a pre-emptive strike against a campaign to legalize polygamy, which usually involves a man with several wives although the opposite, too, is possible. Cotler said, however, the studies were sought by the attorney general of British Columbia, who was looking for ammunition to use in a potential criminal case involving polygamy in the province. "There have been investigations in British Columbia on the issues of polgyamy-related offences," Cotler said. "We don't know whether a charge will be laid." He said the studies will look at the harmful fallout from polygamy. Cotler remains convinced that polygamy is an entirely different matter from same-sex marriage. "We've got an offence with respect to polygamy in the Criminal Code," he said. "It's criminal and we believe it's not only criminal but it's constitutionally sound as a Criminal Code offence." The courts say same-sex marriage is constitutional and actually flows from the Charter of Rights, he said. Harper, who says he supports extending benefits but not the right to a traditional marriage to same-sex couples, said he doesn't know if legalizing same-sex marriage will lead to the same demand for legally having more than one wife. But he says he fears it's a slippery slope. "I believe we have to recognize the traditional definition of marriage in law, otherwise we will continue to be presented with demands that just get more and more radical," he said. "I don't believe there's any support in the country for the recognition of polygamy in law." Liberal MP Pat O'Brien, however, said same-sex marriage may indeed open the door for polygamy. He served on a Commons committee that looked at same-sex marriage several years ago. "We had several experts come to us and forewarn that if you start to unravel the traditional definition of marriage, you know where you start all right, but you don't know where it would end," he said. "There were very serious predictions that we would see the next demand to be polygamy." The Conservative party plans a national advertising campaign aimed at gaining support from Canadian ethnic groups for the party's stand against gay marriage. The Tory ads come at a time when Sikh and Roman Catholic leaders have spoken out against redefining marriage laws to include homosexual relationships. Harper, who was wrapping up a three-day visit to Quebec, said he fears the Liberals may end up being open to eventually legalizing polygamy. "As soon as they've got to attack one traditional idea, the next one is down the road. "I don't want to get into the polygamy debate but I fear if we do this, the next thing on the Liberal agenda will be polygamy and who knows what else." | |
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canoe.ca Originally published January 20, 2005 | |
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