Submit your comments on this article |
Great White North |
Canadian Lawmaker Quits Liberal Party |
2005-06-07 |
A Canadian lawmaker resigned from the governing Liberal Party on Monday because of his opposition to its efforts to legalize gay marriage, further weakening Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government. Parliament member Pat O'Brien declared himself an independent, taking a seat away from the Liberals. The move comes shortly after Martin's scandal-battered minority government won a no-confidence motion in parliament by just one vote. O'Brien's defection does not dramatically change the balance of power for the Liberals, since an opposition Conservative Party member crossed over to the Liberals and another Liberal was recently elected in a by-election. But his departure gives impetus to the growing push by other Liberals to join Conservatives in blocking the gay marriage bill. |
Posted by:Fred |
#4 Ah, I see now. |
Posted by: Edward Yee 2005-06-07 17:15 |
#3 O'Brien was supposedly promised that gay marriage will be freely debated in parliament. Martin backed away from this promise, and this pissed off O'Brien and others. |
Posted by: Rafael 2005-06-07 10:38 |
#2 My politics on the subject aside ... is he really going to be a Liberal-at-heart on all other issues, or is this a real break? I'm holding my breath until either Paul Martin is out on his ass, in jail, both, or there's a Democratic People's Republic of Quebec (DPRQ). If the last one, I'll ROTFLMAO. |
Posted by: Edward Yee 2005-06-07 03:20 |
#1 Mebbe the tipping point (back to sanity) is approaching. Here's hoping, anyway. If O'Brien is respected and listened to, he might bring some to (at least) think, if not follow. |
Posted by: .com 2005-06-07 01:43 |