POLLAGE: MOST CANADIANS WANT REFERENDUM ON SSM, BACK GAY RIGHTS IN GENERAL BUT NOT SSM: From the National Post

As MPs begin debating the government's same-sex marriage bill, a healthy majority of Canadians would actually prefer to see the contentious issue decided by a country-wide referendum, a new National Post/Global National poll suggests.

More than two-thirds said they would prefer a direct say on the gay marriage question, rather than a free vote in Parliament that lets politicians act according to their conscience, the survey indicates.

And the poll suggests the same-sex legislation might go down to defeat in a plebiscite, with 66% saying they support keeping the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.

However, about half that number do favour creating a new category of "civil union" for same-sex partners. A similar percentage favour full same-sex marriage. The breakdown of support has changed little in the last year.

Respondents to the COMPAS Inc. poll also indicated same-sex marriage should be far down on the government's list of priorities. And a strong majority said government comments suggesting religious groups do not belong in the emotional debate are a threat to freedom of speech. ...

Conrad Winn of COMPAS said the support for a referendum on the issue is unusual and much higher than the company generally finds, perhaps because it is a subject many people feel they understand and can offer a reasonable opinion about.

Also surprising, he said, was that the poll found public opinion on same-sex marriage had barely changed in more than a year, despite the extensive public debate over it.

Of those polled, 66% said they would strongly or somewhat support keeping the existing definition of marriage as a union between a man and woman exclusively. Another 34% said they would oppose preserving the status quo.

When given more choices, 29% said the marriage law should not be changed at all, 36% favoured maintaining marriage as a heterosexual institution but creating a "civil union" category for gay couples, while 35% said gays should get full marriage rights.

The poll also hinted at what Mr. Winn calls a "civilizational" divide between the spiritually devout and others. Among the one-third who said religion was very important to them, 80% opposed opening the doors to same-sex marriage, compared with 35% among those for whom religion was not important. ...

The poll also asked for views on polygamy, which some critics fear could end up being legalized in the wake of the same-sex marriage legislation. A surprising 14% said they believe any tolerant society must allow people to have more than one spouse, even though it is now barred by law.

more
posted by Eve at 3:50 PM | link

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home