Harper declares same-sex marriage issue closed : Top Stories : News : Sympatico / MSN: "Harper declares same-sex marriage issue closed
08/12/2006 9:51:57 AM


Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he will respect today's 175-123 vote against revisiting debate on same-sex marriage, and considers the matter closed.


CTV.ca News Staff

Members of Carleton University Students' Association rally against reopening the equal marriage debate on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. (CP / Jonathan Hayward)

MPs voted 175-123 on Thursday against a Conservative motion calling for the government to introduce legislation restoring the traditional definition of marriage.
'We made a promise to have a free vote on this issue, we kept that promise, and obviously the vote was decisive and obviously we'll accept the democratic result of the people's representatives,' said Harper. 'I don't see reopening this question in the future.'
Conservative House Leader Rob Nicholson said he was disappointed with the result of the vote, but that it was still a healthy exercise in democracy.
'I support the traditional definition of marriage and I always have,' he said.
He also said the government has 'no plans' to introduce a defence of religions act, to protect religious institutions from being forced to marry same-sex couples.
Critics say such an act would be redundant since those rights are already protected under the Charter of Rights of Freedoms.
CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife said Harper knew Thursday's motion wouldn't pass.
'In fact, the resolution -- even "