DIFFERING VIEWS ON SSM IN CANADA: Press release

(Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) Canadians hold dissimilar positions on certain arguments advocated by those who either support or oppose same-sex marriage, according to a poll by Compas Inc. for the National Post and Global National. 69 per cent of respondents believe protecting gays against discrimination is long overdue, 48 per cent believe wedlock would bring stability to the lives of homosexuals, and only 12 per cent say traditional marriage can be harmful and needs to be weakened.

Conversely, at least a third of respondents believe same-sex marriage is insulting to religion, common sense and parents, while 24 per cent believe it could lead to polygamy.

Over the past two years, the courts in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, and Newfoundland and Labrador have ruled to permit legal same-sex marriages. On Dec. 9, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of allowing the federal government to go ahead with a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage. The country's foremost tribunal said the constitution protects the rights of homosexual partners to formalize their bonds.

On Feb. 1, the government introduced legislation aimed at legalizing same-sex marriage in the entire country. If approved, the law would stipulate that no religious institutions would be forced to perform same-sex marriages.

Prime minister Paul Martin has guaranteed Liberal party members a "free vote" on the bill. The Liberals currently control 134 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons.

Polling Data

Please tell me if you agree or disagree with each of the following reasons for supporting gay marriage:

Agree
Disagree

Protecting gays against discrimination is long overdue
69%
31%

Gay marriage would bring stability to the lives of homosexuals
48%
52%

Traditional marriage can be harmful and needs to be weakened
12%
88%

Please tell me if you agree or disagree with each of the following reasons for opposing gay marriage:

Agree
Disagree

It insults religion
48%
52%

It insults common sense
40%
60%

Gay marriage insults parents, who need encouragement to carry out the hard work of
caring for children
33%
67%

It could lead to polygamy
24%
76%

Source: Compas Inc. / National Post / Global National
Methodology: Interviews to 885 Canadian adults, conducted from Jan. 28 to Jan. 31, 2005. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.
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