The Canadian Press National News, Wednesday, October 4, 2006

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Harper denies Tory plan to boost rights of gay-marriage opponents

Bruce Cheadle The Canadian Press

OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his government has no plans to draw up legislation that would protect officials and churches that refuse to deal with homosexuals.

The denial Wednesday came amidst a fresh barrage of charges that the Conservative government is intolerant and tilted toward the religious right, based on recent cuts to adult literacy funding, women's networks and the court challenges program.

Harper accused Liberal Leader Bill Graham of "engaging in speculation," when he suggested the government was considering overriding the rights of gays.

"In fact, the government has not any plans at all along the lines that he's suggesting," Harper told the House of Commons.

The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday that the Tories were floating the idea of a Defence of Religions Act to protect public officials who refuse to perform same-sex marriages, and church groups that refuse to rent halls to gay couples.

Justice Minister Vic Toews, who had appeared to confirm that the idea was at least under discussion, dismissed opposition questions Wednesday as "speculation."

Toews refused to discuss the matter with reporters following question period, and government spokesman Dimitris Soudas said the minister had fully responded to the issue in the House.

Cabinet has seen no such proposal, added Soudas. He did not respond to questions about whether Justice Department officials were preparing a proposal.

But even the mention of such a law sparked concern, even from some Tories.

"It's a slippery slope you start going down, legislating morality," said Conservative maverick Garth Turner.

http://www.biblio.eureka.cc/Biblio/Search/Doc_save.asp?Action=AffDocPleinText (1 sur 3)2006-10-12 17:53:56 document "This opens up the whole situation to potential problems, to potential bigotry and intolerance on the part of people on both sides of the issue."

Tory MP Art Hanger said he doesn't see the need for further legislation.

"For the most part, the constitutional rights, freedom of religion, speech, et cetera, are already cast in stone. I would assume the courts in this land would protect that."

Bloc Quebecois MP Real Menard accused the Tories of attempting to "legalize discrimination."

The carefully worded denials of the government did not stop widespread comment on the idea - both pro and con - by Conservative MPs.

The Globe reported that proposed legislation would be brought forward if, as expected, the minority Tories lose a vote this fall to re-open the same-sex marriage debate.

It might also seek to protect people who criticize homosexuality based on their religious convictions, and protect businesses who won't work with certain organizations for the same reason.

"I guess that's plan B and certainly there is a demand out there from the religious groups saying there are holes, or loopholes, in the existing legislation where they can be challenged," said MP Gerry Ritz, a Saskatchewan Conservative.

Human Resources Minister Diane Finley said religious freedom demands such a remedy: "Yes, we need such a law; we've had too many attacks on it already."

Similar-sounding legislation has twice fallen on procedural tactics in the Alberta legislature this year.

Ted Morton, the Alberta Tory MLA who pitched the private members bills, cited the Knights of Columbus hall in British Columbia that was fined for refusing to rent space to a same-sex wedding party, and the case of a B.C. teacher suspended for speaking out against gay marriage in a newspaper.

Protections for religious belief were widely debated when same-sex marriage became law in 2005. A clause was written into the act that appears to offer some of the very protections Morton and others seek, but those protections have yet to be tested through appeal courts up to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Category: News Uniform subject(s): Laws and regulations Subject(s) - The Canadian Press : POLITICS; SOCIAL; RELIGION; JUSTICE Hour of publication: 17:4 Length: Medium, 499 words

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