Québec Or Scripture, But Not Both Mr. Harper

After all the efforts the Conservatives put into the last election to win 10 measely seats in Québec (then again, they are not all that measely after being shut out since 1993), you'd think they would let sleeping dogs lie. But our PM is too sanctimonious for that. The following is an excerpt from an article that appeared last week on LifeSite, a web-site that "emphasizes the social worth of traditional Judeo-Christian principles but is also respectful of all authentic religions and cultures that esteem life, family and universal norms of morality" :

This June Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Canada that Parliament will re-open debate on same-sex "marriage" in its Fall session. Last year on June 28, Parliament passed Bill C-38, by a 158-133 margin, making Canada the fourth country to recognize same-sex "marriage", after the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.

The renewed debate over the fate of traditional marriage in Canada gives a perfect opportunity for an ad limina delegation led by Bishop Smith to show Pope Benedict XVI how seriously they take his words. Bishop Smith told the Toronto Star the Pope had reminded bishops from Canada’s eastern provinces that "Faced with the many social ills and moral ambiguities which follow in the wake of a secularist ideology, Canadians look to you to be men of hope, preaching and teaching with passion."

Prime Minister Harper has of course promised another vote in the House of Commons on the question of whether the definition of marriage should include same-sex couples. Never mind Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe telling him, in one of January's televised pre-election debates, that "we already had a vote on that." And it passed, 158 to 133 (13 MPs absent), with 4 BQs voting against the legislation and 43 voting for it. In 2003 the Bloc voted 28-0 in favour of bill C-250, which added "sexual orientation" as a class to be protected against hate propaganda. Lifesite's got all the stats here if you're interested.

But now this, from a CBC interview last week :

With support for Quebec's provincial Liberals falling, Parti Québécois Leader André Boisclair has told Radio-Canada that he's ready to become Canada's first openly gay premier."I think I can contribute to changing the mentality," he said in French during an interview Tuesday morning. "All the better if people hear about my story and recognize themselves in it."

Boisclair refused to do an interview with the English side of CBC News on the issues of his homosexuality and his admissions that he has used cocaine, but he told the broadcaster's French service that he believes Quebecers in search of an honest leader will appreciate his candour.

"Quebecers are looking for sincerity," he said.


I see another referendum on the horizon.