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6 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February 22, 2005 Should be free vote Cabinet members or not, each of the 307 elected memibers of' Caniada's 38th Parliament should bc free t0 vote on samne-sex mariage legislation according 10 their conscience -without ficar ot reprisaIs from Prime Minister Paul Martin. Anytbiing less is a slap in the face to the demiocratic process. Numerous reports -including one troni the staff at Burlington MP Paddy Torsncy's constituency office - indicate that the prime minister expeets members of bis cabinet 10 toe the party fine by sup- porting controversial Bill C-38. While if mighît make sense, politically, to vote iii favour of legisiation put forth by one's own party, every MP also lias a duty to, those who elected thern to office - and to their own beliefs. lit will be interesting to see if any of Mai-tin's hand-picked cabinet members bas the courage to, break ranks in opposi- tion to the legisiation. To do so would most certainly be met with virtually immediate expulsion from cabinet and a political power. However, if a significant nuinober of' renegade cabinet ministers werc 10 take a stand agaiinot flic legislation tl would cer- tainly cause irreparable damage to Martin's alrcady tenuous grip on fice lead- ership of our country. fi would also send a message tiat the prime miiiisicr hadn't donc bis boniework wlicn it came 10 clîoosing tlice men and ssomen 10 blpl lead the country. Meanwbile. cabinet iniisters have been placed in an unenviable no-win sit- uiation. Should they support the legisiation, constituents who oppose same-sex miar- niage will bold themn accountable in their eventual bid for re-eleciion. If they oppose if, Martin will have their political heads. Sadly, wc suspect that mosi members of cabinet are willing to take their chances wiîh an electorate that is divided on the issue rallier than face the prime minisier's wrath. So mucb for free votes in Parliaunent. corresponding reduction in pay - and So much for democracy. *Our Readers Write Gary Carr's d«1.9i» on bill dlsappolntlng Sanctîty of marriage goes beyond procreation Dear Edilr l'm writing this letter to express my sincere disappointiment in Halton MP Gary Carr's decision te vote *No' to extending equal access to civil marriage to same-sex couples. The reason 1 voteti for Mr. Carr was because he representeti the Liberal party. Knowing that Ibis issue would be raiseti in Parliamient, 1 especially wanted te belp elect a Liberal govemment led by Paul Martin, as be would ensure that it was deait with in a fair anti juat maniser. For the flrst trime ever, we put a Liberal sign on our lawn, antd my flamily assisteti witb Mr. Carn's campaign, as we were truly concerniet about tbe oulcomne of the electaon. Imagine my dismay upon reading that Mr. Carr doesn't wisb 10 upholth Ie val- ues of equality andi respect that ahl Canadians deserve. I'mn a prouti Canadian andi often brag to my American relatives how tolerant our country is of ils citizens, regartiless of sexual orienta- tion. Mr. Carr's decision bas truly broken il faitli in bis ahiiy roi demonstrate trie leadersbip anti courage in ensuring equal righta for ail. LansaDurchoft Hawthiomn Cresont *The Canadian Champion ox a n . ., Te Canadien Cheampiun, pubishied eanis Tuesday and Friday ai 191 Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Main Si, E_ Mlton, Ort. L9T 4N9 (tox 248), s one of The Metrolard Prntîong, Publishing & Ditîsibting Lid. gîoup af subartan companues which ~ 41 slades: Ajax/Pickering News Advnntiser, ltiîston Herald/Courier tarrie (905) 8 7 8 -23 4 Adoance, toilan Enierprise Brampton Guardîs, oniungnton Post, turiîngtoo Shopping Newns, City Parent, City ai York Guardian, ColiingwoodiWasaga Editorial Fax: 905-878-4943 Coriecian, E-ast Yora Mirr Erra Advocaie/Contry Rouies. Otbcoke Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 trodependerit/Acton Free Press, Haltan Business Times, HuroatBusiness Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Ecanamisi & tun. MidtarndPenetarig Classified: 90J5-875-33)0 u5isene MirrorMilon Sopping News, Misasaîra Business Times, Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ena tanner, Narthumberlard News, North York Mirror, Oakvill Beaver. Osavîlte Shopirpng News, Oldaîmers Hockey Newns. Orangevlle tanner, Onitia Ian Oliver Publisher Taday, Qshawa/Whsitby/Clarigton/Pael Perr This Week, Peterborough Thrs Week, Pîctan Cauaty Guide, Richmand HrianhrmhllNaugran Literai. tcran Neil Oliver Asooiiatî' Pîîblîshîr barangh Mîrrar. tauivite/Uxbridgn Triture Jl Davis Fdîtar-ii'Chif Adoertising is accnpted ar the canditiar that rn thn nonrr ai a typa- grapOîcal errar, Oha ponrti tha advenaising spaca accapied Oy One erra- Karen Smith Maaiîahg Fajiar neous itm, tagerrer wîit a neasoaate allawaace for sigrature, wiii nai On Wendy McNab Adiertiiing Diri'ato chargnd for Oui tOn balarce oi the adonrisemeot wîii On par tarai the apprli- catle rate TOn pattistrer reserves iOe rigtl ta caiegorian adonniisnrneois or 'Iim Coles Proci on Manera~' decine Dear Edilor: David Cummings' letter in the February 15 Champion presenîed an interesting. argument in opposi- lion 10 same-sex mari-age. His main argument seemed Io be that "fundamental 10 this heteroses- ual union is a family, the pi-ocre- ation ofechild-en." Judging by thîs comment, one can only assume that bie opposes same-sex marriage on the basis ibai bomnosexual couples can't pi-ocre- are. Going by its argument, we should immediately caîl ou- MPs Io demand that anyone over the age of 40 be denied the i-igbi 10 mar-y, since they migbî be getting married for the wrong irasons -such as love, support and fringe benefits like financial secunity. Oh, the hor- ro-. It has also, come 10 my attention that there are many marrird couples thai are cbildless by choice. This is an outrage. and we must also Write ou- MPs and demand that A these marniages be annulîrd unless tbey bear child-en îmmediately. Mi-. Cummtngs, bow many cbil- dren is enougb one, îwo, possi- bly ibi-ce? A referendumn is definite- ly in order for an issue of Ibis importance. Thr majority must be gîven tbe chance t0 decide. A dangerous trend bas begun 10 emerge in Canada. The 2001 Canadian Census revealed Ibat Ibere are now many families with- ouI ebild-en. In fact, t0 ensu-e Ibat we continue Io use mari-age for ils intended pur- pose, there shoulti be a set timeline in whicb newlyweds have to repro- duce. If tbey donti produce off- spring in Ibat lime period, Iben society must move swiftly and effi- ciently 10 revoke their mainages. l'm noi against childless couples, nor amn I "bateful simply because I cberish traditional family values," but Ibis problem needs 10 be addressed immediately. 1. like Mi-. Cummings, can't sup- port anytbing Ibai "tbreatens 10 fur- ther weaken an institution so essen- tial io ou- life and future." Give me a break. I agi-ce that mari-age ils a sacred institution and its purpose exlends far beyond pro- creation. Society bas evolved considerably from the lime wben ou- founding fathers muled the land. Wbaî would tbey îhink about ou- multicultural society and the i-oIe of women today? Canada is a diverse nation ibai places value on equal rigbts - let's keep iî that way. Every Canadian bas the rigbt 10 bave their relation- sbîp respected and valued. Shannon Morris Barclay Circle E-mail your letters to the edîtor to miltoneck4haftonsearch.com. Pud by Steve Nease Ertitanial ara adveraisrrg content ai The Caradrar Champion is pratectna Oy copyright Uraatharîaed ose os prohitnd The Miften Canadien Champion in a Recycaabie Pendant rj Charlene Hall Distiutîin Maanai' Terj Casas Office Maa.gaer MW1711- 1 i i