Canadian Conservatives: As smart as thier foreign counterparts

[cAndId]

Some interesting things our leaders in the government have said.



"When you go into the issue of homosexuals and lesbians it's in the interest of society to have the right to discriminate against that group in areas of ... schools is one that comes to mind."

- Conservative Party Natural Resources critic Dave Chatters arguing in favour of discrimination against gays on a radio station in Westlock, Alberta, on April 30th 1996.


"I paraded [protested] with [Stockwell] Day and his people in front of a school in Red Deer against sex education."

- Jim Green, supporter of anti-Semitic teacher Jim Keegstra, quoted in Briarpatch Magazine, July/August 2000.


"Homosexuality is a choice, in my view."

- Stockwell Day on a Vancouver radio talk show, July 2000.


"We all make mistakes and they made a mistake in pursuing a project which purports to reflect the sexual choices of one per cent of the population."

- Stockwell Day, 1997, fighting a $10,000 lotteries grant to study the lives and history of gays in Alberta. Most statistics suggest that four to 10 per cent of the general population is homosexual.


"Homosexuality is a mental disorder that can be cured through counselling."

- Stockwell Day, February of 1992, quoted in Alberta Report.


"The establishment came down with a constitutional package which they put to a national referendum. The package included distinct society status for Quebec and some other changes, including some that would just horrify you, putting universal Medicare in our constitution, and feminist rights, and a whole bunch of other things."

"I was asked to speak about Canadian politics. It may not be true, but it's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians."

"[Y]our country [the USA], and particularly your conservative movement, is a light and an inspiration to people in this country and across the world."

- Conservative leader [we elected him as our Prime Minister] Stephen Harper, then vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, in a June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.


"This party will not take its position based on public opinion polls. We will not take a stand based on focus groups. We will not take a stand based on phone-in shows or householder surveys or any other vagaries of pubic opinion... In my judgment Canada will eventually join with the allied coalition if war on Iraq comes to pass. The government will join, notwithstanding its failure to prepare, its neglect in co-operating with its allies, or its inability to contribute. In the end it will join out of the necessity created by a pattern of uncertainty and indecision. It will not join as a leader but unnoticed at the back of the parade."

- Stephen Harper indicating that, if elected, Canada will join the US occupation of Iraq, Hansard, January 29th 2003

"Rob is a true reformer and a true conservative. He has been a faithful supporter of mine and I am grateful for his work."

- Stephen Harper endorsing Calgary West Conservative MP Rob Anders, who in 2001 called Nelson Mandela "a Communist and terrorist."



"Regarding sexual orientation or, more accurately, what we are really talking about, sexual behaviour, the argument has been made ... that this is analogous to race and ethnicity.... (For) anyone in the Liberal party to equate the traditional definition of marriage with segregation and apartheid is vile and disgusting."

- Conservative leader Stephen Harper, 2003.


"The fact is that homosexuals aren’t barred from marrying under Canadian law... Marriage is open to everybody as long as they’re a man and a woman."

- Conservative MP Jason Kenney, Punjabi Editorial Board Interview, January 30, 2005.


"We saw that young American having his head cut off. What's happening, what is happening down there no different."

- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) at a 2004 pro-life rally on Parliament Hill, comparing abortion to the beheading of American Nicolas Berg by insurgents in Iraq


"I want the whole world to know that I do not condone homosexuals. I do not condone their activity. I do not like what they do. I think it is wrong. I think it is unnatural and I think it is totally immoral. I will object to it forever whenever they attack the good, traditional Canadian family unit that built the country."

- MP Myron Thompson.

"For instance, I'm not opposed to gays, but if you bring one of those suckers into my school and they try to push their crap on my students, I have a problem with that. "

- MP Myron Thompson opposing education promoting understanding of gays in the Belleville Intelligencer, April 29th 1994.



"You can't scalp me because I haven't got much hair on top of my head."

- Saskatchewan Canadian Alliance candidate Brian Fitzpatrick during a native-organized candidates debate, November 2000.

"The danger in having sexual orientation just listed, that encompasses for example pedophiles. I believe that the caucus as a whole would like to see it repealed."

- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant on CTV News, June 5th 2004, attacking proposed hate propaganda legislation that would protect homosexuals.



"Are we going to go like lambs to the gas chamber as the Chrétien’s Liberals strip away our rights?"

- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant in the National Post, November 21st 2000, comparing the national firearms registry to the Holocaust.

"That's my guess, yes, especially where you have alcohol and drugs and mix that with very short-term changing sexual relationships... There's a lot of jealousy... they [homosexuals] are vengeful, and their health isn't very good. [Skinheads bashing gays] is one kind of marginalized group doing its thing against another marginalized sub-group, which essentially has nothing to do with human rights before the law. It's purely one gang going against another gang."

- New Westminster-Coquitlam Conservative MP Paul Forseth opposing legislation to protect gays from hate crimes, March 18th 1995, House of Commons.

"You’re being told this is good and normal and that you shouldn’t think that there’s anything wrong with it, which is what’s happening to our young people now in our schools. So they start looking and they start checking and they start experimenting, and this is what I’m talking about . . . an orchestrated recruitment plan. So you back it down to the impressionable and vulnerable and then bring it all the way through their life, and you know, this is quite understandable how this can happen."

- Canadian Alliance MP Larry Spencer speaking about the "well-orchestrated" homosexual conspiracy, Vancouver Sun, November 27, 2003.



"The [homosexual] activists that organized in those days [encouraged] people of their persuasion to enter into educational fields, and to do this with the feeling of a mission, you know, of going out there as pioneers in a -- quote-- human rights area, and I think they were successful as we've seen."

- Canadian Alliance MP Larry Spencer, speaking about the "well-orchestrated" homosexual conspiracy, Vancouver Sun, November 27, 2003.



"When it comes to people who wish to live together, whether they are women or men, why do they have to be out here in the public always debating that they want to call it marriage? If they are going to live together, they can go live together and shut up about it."

- Conservative MP Elsie Wayne tells gays and lesbians to shut up.



"I do believe it was a mistake to have legalized it."

- Canadian Alliance family issues critic Larry Spencer speaking about homosexuality, Vancouver Sun, November 27, 2003. The U.S.-born former Baptist pastor also argued that the gay-rights movement’s recent successes in areas like same-sex marriage stem from a "well-orchestrated" homosexual conspiracy.



"They probably should have used the notwithstanding clause as Ralph Klein has said he will do, but they're not doing that at this time and definitely we had hoped, the majority of the people had hoped, that they would appeal the decision on Ontario, but they haven't done that either."

- Conservative MP Elsie Wayne on gay marriage.



"I don't think that, you know, anybody would argue that if Nelson Mandela was saying, you know, 30 years ago, that you should go around with matches and necklaces and strangle people or burn them out of their homes, that is not terrorism."

- Conservative MP Rob Anders after blocking a resolution to declare former South African president Nelson Mandela an honorary Canadian citizen, June 11, 2001. Anders also implied that South Africa was better off during Apartheid than it is today.




If the Conservatives had always ruled Canada, government would be heavily involved in the bedrooms of the nation. Our current PM wanted to enter into Iraq, saying that he would ignore the will of the people - he knew the people were heavily against it. The conservatives are an evil that hasnt been noticed enough in this country. We elected them because our government was corrupt and scandal after scandal was coming to light. I do not believe we as canadians truly understood who it was we were allowing to take office - but thankfully Canadians are not going to let them keep government, and we are ready to yank them out of power the second thier social conservative values start to be enforced. Right now the leaderless Liberal party is tied with the conservatives - even though the conservatives have ruled scandal free for almost a year.

I expect these people to be removed from office by the next election (hopefully spring). Maybe if they go through with the vote to repeal our right to marry, we will see the government fall sooner.

Vote Liberal.

[thirstycanadianboy]

OMG Youve been digging up all this Liberal Propaganda this whole time haven't you

*turns around and screams don't listen to him people*

[cAndId]

It may be propaganda, but it reveals a terrifying truth about our leaders. Canada needs to have these people removed from power soon!

[thirstycanadianboy]

Canada needs to have these people removed from power soon!

you mean the few narrow minded people in power, not all of them


Surely thats what you mean

[cAndId]

Prime Minister Harper, Day, Anders (definition of evil), Thompson (he is really old and will probably not run in the next election anyway), Gallant... etc. I get the feeling that Ambrose has no clue what the hell she is doing (I swear she is just there to be a pretty face for the party), Solberg is a freakin nutcase and the whole party is outta step with what the majority of Canadians want.

[The_Reaper]

A good listing, but you missed one:


Stephen Harper once said this to Svend Robinson:

During a debate on ethics, Harper stated that MPs could be likely to find their mugshots in police stations throughout Canada.

When Robinson objected to this claim, Harper responded that Robinson (One of Canada's first openly gay MPs) could find his picture in more "wonderful" places.


I just did a research paper on the Conservatives and their opposition to bills for gay rights.

Everything I've read does point to an internalized homophobia within the Conservative Party and all it's predecesors (Canadian Alliance, Reform, and Progressive Conservatives.)

When it comes to social issues, our Conservatives are just as bad as the Republicans down south.

And I will admit, I was quite outraged when Harper's speech to that group was made public in the last election.

Canada is a sovereign nation, Mr. Harper, if you want to live in a country closer in line with American policies and their Conservative Movement, you always have the option to move.

But you won't force the beliefs and views of another country, be it the United States or any one country, upon Canada.

[thirstycanadianboy]

Well it is your right to vote for whom ever you wish to vote for, I can't change your mind in anyways shape or form.



You make the decisions based on your facts, and I on My facts

[cAndId]

A good listing, but you missed one:


Stephen Harper once said this to Svend Robinson:

During a debate on ethics, Harper stated that MPs could be likely to find their mugshots in police stations throughout Canada.

When Robinson objected to this claim, Harper responded that Robinson (One of Canada's first openly gay MPs) could find his picture in more "wonderful" places.


I just did a research paper on the Conservatives and their opposition to bills for gay rights.

Everything I've read does point to an internalized homophobia within the Conservative Party and all it's predecesors (Canadian Alliance, Reform, and Progressive Conservatives.)

When it comes to social issues, our Conservatives are just as bad as the Republicans down south.

And I will admit, I was quite outraged when Harper's speech to that group was made public in the last election.

Canada is a sovereign nation, Mr. Harper, if you want to live in a country closer in line with American policies and their Conservative Movement, you always have the option to move.

But you won't force the beliefs and views of another country, be it the United States or any one country, upon Canada.

Oh I do believe I missed more than just one

Good post.

[cAndId]

Well it is your right to vote for whom ever you wish to vote for, I can't change your mind in anyways shape or form.



You make the decisions based on your facts, and I on My facts

We are dominating this site with our opinions, but what are your opinions? What values do you share with the conservative party? What are the facts you base your support for them on?


(just curious :P)

[thirstycanadianboy]

Well sorry to say this, please don't hate me but I think th Gun Registry is a waste of time, the gay marriage thing well I really don't support that Idea

Again I'm sorry

[Sausy]

We are dominating this site with our opinions, but what are your opinions? What values do you share with the conservative party? What are the facts you base your support for them on?


(just curious :P)

TCB,they've got pretty damning quotes.Though you may be right and the Conservative Party overall isn't infected with a nasty homophobic streak,even a Canadian superhero can't get away with "Take My Word For It",you've got to back it up in debate.I am not of a liberal political perspective,more leaning moderate to conservative,but the social right seems to be working its poisonous way through both politics here in the US and in our good northern neighbor Canada.

[cAndId]

I agree with the gun registry thing to an extent, the long arm guns that farmers use should not have to be registered IMO - however something has to be done to control hand guns and other firearms that are not obviously used by hunters to shoot deer and pheasant.

...why do you think we dont deserve the right to marry the ones we love?

have a gander at this video:



Here is a trailer I found on youtube, I havent heard of the movie before now...

[thirstycanadianboy]

You can't force a church or its parishioners to do something they feel is wrong, I just feel that it's pointless to get married, If you love some one shouldn't that be enough?

[thirstycanadianboy]

The Kelowna Accord was pointless aswell just a cheap way for them to buy the aboriginal votes. yes something has to be done about the small arms, and the regestry which is costing more and more tax payers money didn't stop the shooting in Torono did they? and abortion, I don't care what you say a woman has no right to take a baby childs life because they don't want the child, don't tell me they do, when youv'e lost a child to abortion you try and tell me they have right.

[jft245]

Living in the US, the only things I know about Canadian politics, I learn from watching This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and Air Farce. That being said, Canada is just like the US, you elect some good people who are really trying to help but it is the idiots that end up in power.

[MattieMich]

You can't force a church or its parishioners to do something they feel is wrong, I just feel that it's pointless to get married, If you love some one shouldn't that be enough?

If you live in a world where you'll ride off into the sunset riding unicorns and living off the land the rest of your life. But what about when you need some of the benefits marriage provides to straight couples?

Marriage is not measuring your love, it's measuring your equality.

[unclaimedblessing]

Several months ago I posted here on the US gay marriage issue and stated that a significant thorn is semantics and the use of the term "marriage".
Extreme Christian Fundamentalists are totally intolerant and want to destroy use, there's no doubt there. But many moderate religious people (Christians, Jews, Moslems etc) cherish fairness. The word "marriage" in itself connotates a religious sacrament, which pious people resent and centuries old religious books condemn that. We can't expect them to forego the foundations their religions are built on.
I beleive if we crusaded for "domestic partnership" we'd have a better chance of explaining our goals and issues to a more receptive demographic, and win more popular support for our cause.
They could call it apple butter if they like, as long as it gets us fair and equal treatment. Do we really need the white gown and black tux to make our relationship work or solemnize our love for each other?

[Keeland]

The word "marriage" in itself connotates a religious sacrament, which pious people resent and centuries old religious books condemn that.

Marriage is a religious sacrament only in the eyes of the religious. They can attempt to usurp the meaning of it all they want, but if it were so, no marriage of two atheists would mean anything.

A marriage performed by a justice of the peace or any other person qualified to do so who does not represent God is no more religious than a boxing-day sale. Marriage is a requirement for a couple who want to obtain all the legal and social standing the status affords. What's religious about a tax write-off — unless it's a free ride by the church?

We can't expect them to forego the foundations their religions are built on.

Yes, we can. If we didn't, stoning would still be allowed (as it is where your argument holds sway), slavery would be the norm (as it is where your argument holds sway), bigamy would be everywhere (as it where your argument holds sway) and it would be legal to bash babies' brains out, as adherents were ordered to do by God in the Old Testament.

It's hardly necessary to go back 150 years in the example of slavery and intolerance. That white bastion, the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa, was a juggernaut in the fight to keep apartheid alive and well. It preached that blacks must be subservient and kept separate from the ruling whites because God says so in the Bible. It kept saying so almost to the end of apartheid. The country's so-called leaders would spout God's word at every turn. This isn't ancient history. Check it out on the web.

[cAndId]

I think I will let Rick Mercer explain my point on this subject.



That sums up the right wing point of view^

[thirstycanadianboy]

I think I will let Rick Mercer explain my point on this subject.



That sums up the right wing point of view^

sorry no sound on this computer

[rotary]

You can't force a church or its parishioners to do something they feel is wrong

Churches aren't being forced to marry gay couples.

[unclaimedblessing]

Fine, go ahead and force the gay "marriage" issue, and we'll lose.
Call it something more appealing to the majority and we might get equal rights and consideration.
It's just my opinion, but it's based upon talking to many gay and straight people.
Militancy has its place and has acheived progress and goals for some groups, I just think it's counter productive for us.

[rotary]

Fine, go ahead and force the gay "marriage" issue, and we'll lose.

We've already won, in this country.

[RenaissanceMan]

Churches aren't being forced to marry gay couples.

Neither are all churches against marrying gay couples...

Surely if a church wants to wed two people, they should have the right to do so...

No other word than "marriage" will result in real social equality. For me it's not an issue of "equal rights" on some piece of paper, the right to make funeral decisions for your "partner" or something like that....it's being able to say "I'm married" rather than "I'm in a wonderful quasi-permanent, semi-supported, legally bound union which is equivalent to opposite-sex marriage in every way except in name and our genders."

We don't NEED the wedding gown/tux, etc....not even all "traditional" marriages happen that way, but religious-sanctionned or not, THEY still get to say they're "married". I find the choice of words to be important...a different word implies it's something different. Words like "relationship" and "friendship" don't care about gender. Neither should "marriage". Everyone holds "friendship" between two people in high esteem, and I'd hope the same would be with marriage. Not everyone (not even straight people) needs to be married though.

[unclaimedblessing]

Why must we always emulate heterosexuality?.
My first bf became my first lover (8 wonderful years) we would get annoyed when other gays asked "Who is the husband?" or "who is the wife?". We were gay men not a straight couple and definetly not into role play.
I don't beleive in living my life by hetero standards.
Consequently as long as we get equal rights and consideration, I can easily concede giving up the hetero term"marriage" for any other appropriate term.

[thirstycanadianboy]

I think I will let Rick Mercer explain my point on this subject.



That sums up the right wing point of view^

OMG I have to tell you he is just way off base here, not all of right wing people are that way , If that damn computer had speakers I would have known, anyways here are some quotes for ya

"It only takes 20 years for a Liberal to become a conservative without changing and Idea" Robert Anton Wilson


"The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them." Mark Twain


"The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution." Hannah Ardendt


Now all I have to do is wait 20 years for ya

[screwnutty]

not be...better dead then blue! course I'm more of a socialist.

[The_Reaper]

Oh me oh my, this entire thing has gotten out of hand.

I only hope my involvement doesn't make things worse.


Issue #1: The Gun Registry:

Although in the long run, the gun registry was over budget and slightly defunct in being made, it does serve a purpose. In Quebec alone, RCMP officers access the registry over 400 times a day.* So obivously the registry is working the way it is intended, as RCMP officers have gone on record as saying the registry is a useful tool.
*This statistic provide by my political science professor on the issue of the gun registry,

The registry was a step in the right direction, but it is not the be all end all of gun control. Can anyone tell me why a farmer, or any Canadian Gun Owner, needs a fully automatic weapon? Or even one that can be converted to fully automatic with some slight modifications? Last time I checked, you don't use that kind of rifle to go deer hunting.

Something needs to be done in addition to the registry, to get these un-neccesary weapons out of the hands of Canadian Citizens, as there is no purpose for them. Be it a system of buy-backs from the government, or forceful seisure should all else fail.

Issue #2: Same-Sex Marriage

Marriage is not a religious sacrament! The Roman Catholic Church has existed as it is now for what, only 2,000 years? People were getting married long before that!

Marriage is a constantly evolving organism that changes every couple hundred of years.

We can go back to Ancient Rome and before then, to find the existence of polygamy. One man married to many women.

Jump ahead to Medieval Times. Polygamy is gone, but it is not uncommon for a man over the age of 30+ to marry a girl that is hardly 13.

Again, marriage evolved and suddenly we were man and woman, over the age of majority.

And it's safe to say that cavemen probably had a rudimentary form of marriage as well, based with little or no ceremony, and probably similar today's common law marriages.


Marriage always evolves, and it's time for it to evolve again.


Issue #3: Rights and Freedoms of the Church in regards to, Same-Sex Marriage.

No one is telling Churchs they have to perform same-sex marriages. No one is saying that religious groups have to rent out their church halls to same-sex unions.

But a justice of the peace, who is not a religious official but a government one, must recognize the laws of their country and not their religious affiliation.

JoP's do not have the right to refuse to marry a gay couple, because as mentioned before, they have a responsibility to uphold and honour the laws of Canada. And same-sex marriage is enshrined within that law.

As for the Church and various religious groups, they do have a right to refuse to marry as well as rent public space.



I think that covers everything, any questions class?

[cAndId]

If you could read the western standard, you would know what the right wingers in power are all about.

In their world, according to Harper we become more like the US and gay and lesbians have no rights.

Joe Clark is not leading the conservative party - Harper and his backwards religious freaks are.

The conservatives you supported (PC) is gone... the religious right swallowed the small c conservatives.

[The_Reaper]

OMG I have to tell you he is just way off base here, not all of right wing people are that way

Actually, he's not off base at all.


Things change, get over it.


If we stood by tradition, we would still be allowed to glove slap anyone who challenged our honour, and then have a duel with them.


You think school shootings are bad now, can you imagine what some kid who gets called a "freak" every day would be doing if he still had the right to challenge some one to a traditional duel?


Traditions change, sometimes big sometimes small....

But the fact of the matter is, the world changes for a reason. And if you don't change with it, things don't tend to work out well for you.

[screwnutty]

Well it's like in Evolution, things that can't change....die out. Change is good! It keeps us on our toes!

[thirstycanadianboy]

If you could read the western standard, you would know what the right wingers in power are all about.

In their world, according to Harper we become more like the US and gay and lesbians have no rights.

Joe Clark is not leading the conservative party - Harper and his backwards religious freaks are.

The conservatives you supported (PC) is gone... the religious right swallowed the small c conservatives.

I'l admit that but, I still have hope call me naive

[thirstycanadianboy]

Actually, he's not off base at all.


Things change, get over it.


If we stood by tradition, we would still be allowed to glove slap anyone who challenged our honour, and then have a duel with them.


You think school shootings are bad now, can you imagine what some kid who gets called a "freak" every day would be doing if he still had the right to challenge some one to a traditional duel?


Traditions change, sometimes big sometimes small....

But the fact of the matter is, the world changes for a reason. And if you don't change with it, things don't tend to work out well for you.

My favorite quote is

"progress is impossible with out change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything" it was Mr Shaw

I know it's mostly contradictory to my partys goals and what notm, I'm a moderat what can I say

[thirstycanadianboy]

Well it's like in Evolution, things that can't change....die out. Change is good! It keeps us on our toes!

tell that to the people who are leading my party



and just a side note I let my membership lapse I just might swing left or Independant if everything goes south, or they dont get rid of the wing nuts

[thirstycanadianboy]

Issue #1: The Gun Registry:

The registry was a step in the right direction, but it is not the be all end all of gun control. Can anyone tell me why a farmer, or any Canadian Gun Owner, needs a fully automatic weapon? Or even one that can be converted to fully automatic with some slight modifications? Last time I checked, you don't use that kind of rifle to go deer hunting.

Something needs to be done in addition to the registry, to get these un-neccesary weapons out of the hands of Canadian Citizens, as there is no purpose for them. Be it a system of buy-backs from the government, or forceful seisure should all else fail.

I do believe that some thing has to be done about automatic weapons, but hunting rifles no. What can we do about it? I think banning all automatic weapons and impossing manditory prison sentances for possesion of Illagal weapons might help IMO

Issue #2: Same-Sex Marriage

Marriage is not a religious sacrament! The Roman Catholic Church has existed as it is now for what, only 2,000 years? People were getting married long before that

Yes but you also forget that it is still a religious ceremony even before Chatholicism or any other religion, they still asked their God's or God for a blessing, so tell me that's not a religious sacrement

Issue #3: Rights and Freedoms of the Church in regards to, Same-Sex Marriage.

No one is telling Churchs they have to perform same-sex marriages. No one is saying that religious groups have to rent out their church halls to same-sex unions.

Yes but you must remember they're affraid that they will have to, your turning their beliefs upside down on them in their minds 2000 years of belief can't just change over night

But a justice of the peace, who is not a religious official but a government one, must recognize the laws of their country and not their religious affiliation.

JoP's do not have the right to refuse to marry a gay couple, because as mentioned before, they have a responsibility to uphold and honour the laws of Canada. And same-sex marriage is enshrined within that law.

Good Point, I just don't think it should be called a marriage, but rather a civil union and that no Gay Wedding should be held in a church any church, sorry must be the Chatholic in me but that's how I fell

[screwnutty]

tell that to the people who are leading my party



and just a side note I let my membership lapse I just might swing left or Independant if everything goes south, or they dont get rid of the wing nuts

Your party did change! It went from being a semi nice alternative to the liberals to a hard right...almost bible thumping scary nut jobs alternative to the liberals!

[Keeland]

Your party did change! It went from being a semi nice alternative to the liberals to a hard right...almost bible thumping scary nut jobs alternative to the liberals!

Almost? ALMOST? ALMOST?

[MattieMich]

Fine, go ahead and force the gay "marriage" issue, and we'll lose.
Call it something more appealing to the majority and we might get equal rights and consideration.
It's just my opinion, but it's based upon talking to many gay and straight people.
Militancy has its place and has acheived progress and goals for some groups, I just think it's counter productive for us.

Okay, if it's only gay marriage that is being opposed, why are they trying to make anything even similar to marriage illegal also - civil unions, domestic partnerships? I just read an article that the evangelicals are pushing this same line of thought in Canada. But in Canada is an almost impossible uphill battle. Look what's passed here in the states already, sweeping bans on any legal recognition of same sex relationships.

[Keeland]

I just read an article that the evangelicals are pushing this same line of thought in Canada. But in Canada is an almost impossible uphill battle.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper taking lessons on mission-accomplished politics:

Richard Fricker, an award-winning business journalist who is also a sometime contributor to the magazine In These Times (of which I'm a Contributing Editor) has a very sharp-eyed piece today on ConsortiumNews.com about "Canada's New Bush-Style Politics."

The U.S. press doesn't pay much attention to politics in our neighbor to the North, but Fricker (whose wife is Canadian) has the goods on how Canada's new Prime Minister Stephen Harper led the right to power earlier this year, thanks not only to its shameless surfing on xenophobia and homophobia, but to "conservative strategists and right-wing media moguls who had studied the modern American model and were seeking to replicate it."

Harper's stand on same-sex marriage:

Gay rights groups and many progressive people have long warned that Harper intended to roll back rights. This is because Harper has opposed every advance in gay rights including the very first meagre protections of gay people from discrimination introduced in the early 1990s.

Harper has said it is disgusting to compare the fight for equal marriage to battles for gender or racial equality. Harper has also said that the courts should not use the Charter of Rights to protect gays from discrimination. He has also said that being gay is a behaviour, not an identity.

Since taking office he has named anti-gay judges to the bench and eliminated funding for the court challenges program, without which gays would not be able to marry today. He has also eliminated the Law Commission of Canada and and cut the funding for Status of Women Canada, two organizations that have supported gay rights.

His intentions with respect to gay rights could not be clearer.

From the website In Their Own Words:

"If you've read any of the official propagandas, you've come over the border and entered a bilingual country. In this particular city, Montreal, you may well get that impression. But this city is extremely atypical of this country... So it's basically an English-speaking country, just as English-speaking as, I would guess, the northern part of the United States."

- Conservative leader Stephen Harper, then vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, in a June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

Here's one to think about for the bible-thumping born-again you're-all-going-to-hell-but-me the-Earth-is-6,000-years-old right-wing religious whackos worshipping their golden calf, Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day:

As a matter of note, the few polygamists and bigamists whom I personally know are kind, caring and loving toward their children and their multiple partners.

God's anointed Stockwell Day shot down in flames; Wikipedia took note:

Further suggestions of a hidden agenda focussed on the Alliance's direct democracy proposals, which were revealed to require a referendum on any proposal supported by a petition signed by 3% of Canadian voters. Some asserted that "special interest" groups would use the low requirements to put contentious subjects to a national referendum.

The proposal was satirized by Rick Mercer of This Hour has 22 Minutes who started a mock online petition calling for a referendum on whether Day should change his first name to Doris. The petition garnered more than a million signatures

AIDS is God's wrath:

By Murray Dobbin
Published: December 1, 2004
TheTyee.ca

He’s back. Stockwell Day, the man who once admitted that he believed humans and dinosaurs roamed the earth at the same time, has once again revealed that he is not fit to hold public office. Then it was sort of funny (remember the “Doris” Day petition?) but this time it is just appalling.

Press reports revealed recently that Mr. Day, who is the Conservative Party’s foreign affairs critic, refused to send condolences to the Palestinian people on the death of President Yassir Arafat. Why? Because of Mr. Arafat’s support for armed struggle against Israel?

No. Because he might have died of AIDS.

"I would expect the support of the party no matter what happens... even if I were to kill my grandmother with an axe."

- Then-Alliance leader Stockwell Day, according to various MPs, June 2001.

From In Their Own Words on the Conservative movement to save Canada, no less:

"We are on a mission to save Canada... Stockwell Day has proven himself a man who will not recant his beliefs even under the most extreme pressure. "

- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant in the Toronto Star, February 16th 2002. The Star had to enlarge its doorways so she could get her head through them.

"Most Canadians profess to be of the Christian faith and I think we need to be sensitive to the fact it bothers Christians when the name of Jesus Christ is used in a blasphemous way."

- Conservative Foreign Affairs critic Stockwell Day on the need to ban or censor Of Mice and Men in public schools, Red Deer Advocate, March 24, 1994. This happened in the middle of national Freedom to Read Week.

"God's law is clear: standards of education are not set by government, but by God, the Bible, the home and the school."

- Stockwell Day, the Conservative Party's Foreign Affairs critic, in Alberta Report magazine, 1984.

"In the past day or so, we have learned that Stockwell Day apparently believes that the world is 6,000 years old, Adam and Eve were real people and - my personal favourite - humans walked the earth with dinosaurs. I just want to remind Mr. Day that The Flintstones was not a documentary. And this is the only dinosaur that recently co-existed with humans. [Holds up stuffed Barney dinosaur]"

- Liberal activist Warren Kinsella on CTV's Canada AM, 2000.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Vic Toews:

Mr. Toews has worked closely with Focus on the Family Canada to launch national issue campaigns,[4] has quoted their studies in the House of Commons,[5] and recently, while addressing the League for Life in a talk entitled “Abuses of the Charter by the Supreme Court,”[6] he urged pro-life activists to partner with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, a partner organization to Focus on the Family Canada that operates out of the same office building in Ottawa.

Mr. Toews was also guest commentator on Concerned Women of America’s (CWA) radio program “Concerned Women Today” on June 11, 2003 for a broadcast entitled “Canada Says ‘Yes’ to Gay Marriage.”[8] During the program, then-CWA President Sandy Rios interviewed Mr. Toews about the Ontario Court of Appeals decision to legalize same sex marriage, with Mr. Toews saying that the Notwithstanding Clause should be used if the Supreme Court of Canada did not invalidate the Ontario ruling: “It’s called the Notwithstanding Clause….[I]f the Supreme Court continues on that radical agenda we need to push for the federal government to use this constitutional mechanism to ensure that courts understand that they not to [sic] interfere with social policy matters and stay within their realm of judicial interpretations.”

Lawn Order Attorney General Toews:

He blames Vancouver judges for being too soft on crime, saying judges are “lenient”. Toews blasted Vancouver and BC Judges for following precedents and the Laws of Canada. Toews would like to pretend courts don't exist, and that only he has the power to interpret laws and the Constitution, however this is absolutely not the case.

Judges sentence people based on the law, precedent, and their interpretation of both. Toews makes statements based on what he wished was true. He has decided not to believe Statistics Canadas own information that violent crime rates are down.

On same-sex marriage:

Breaking his silence on the issue since being appointed to cabinet, Toews told a Senate committee that the previous Liberal government should have appealed a controversial Ontario Court of Appeal decision in 2003, which ruled in favour of gay marriage, rather than seeking clarification on the issue from the Supreme Court in 2004.

The truth in-advertising Conservative Party mission statement: We had to apologize to the Chinese, we had to apologize to the Japanese, we can't do it to blacks, anymore, but by God (Holy is His blessed name) we can do it to the filthy homos, may they burn in hell as God intended.

[The_Reaper]

Off-Topic:

How is Stockwell our Minister of Public Safety?!

He can't even secure his own safety, how the hell is he going to protect the rest of us?!?!

[thirstycanadianboy]

Off-Topic:

How is Stockwell our Minister of Public Safety?!

He can't even secure his own safety, how the hell is he going to protect the rest of us?!?!

I don't know that is a good question, even I wouldn't trust him with a patatoe gun

[screwnutty]

Off-Topic:

How is Stockwell our Minister of Public Safety?!

He can't even secure his own safety, how the hell is he going to protect the rest of us?!?!

I'm assuming they give him one of those worker's vests and he helps little old ladies cross the street!


seriously....it could be worse..............he could be Deputy Prime Minister!

[Homoaffectional]

We've already won, in this country.

Why, rotary, what do you think you're doing, letting what's already happened, according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, not to mention the facts on the ground, get in the way of these people's defeatism? Shame on you!

[The_Reaper]

Why, rotary, what do you think you're doing, letting what's already happened, according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, not to mention the facts on the ground, get in the way of these people's defeatism? Shame on you!

The problem is we haven't won.

With the Conservatives, even if their attempt fails during this sitting...God forbid they get re-elected with another government, minority or majority (UNLIKELY), they'll just try to do it all over again.


We can not afford to be complacent just because the battle seems to be over and won.

[screwnutty]

We can not afford to be complacent just because the battle seems to be over and won.

I agree....we've won a battle, but the war is far from over!

[cAndId]

Exactly, the conservatives dont think it is over:

This time around, I think it is urgent to call the big bluff. Same-sex “marriage” is not about homosexuals, nor even about homosexuality. It is a wedge being driven into our social order, by its mortal enemies. Their intention is to destroy the nuclear family that is the foundation of that order; same-sex “marriage” is merely a means. Their ambition is to remove all such categories as “father”, “mother”, “husband”, “wife”, “offspring”, first from the law and tax codes, and eventually from everyday life. Everyone with a stake in the future of our children must resolutely oppose them.

- David Warren, he also recently wrote an article in the western standard entitled 'planning the counter-revolution' all about how we are destroying the average canadian family by striving for equal rights and that the conservatives should take away those rights...