The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Ottawa - Justice Minister Martin Cauchon couldn't say Wednesday whether he has any guarantee that controversial same-sex marriage legislation will go ahead under a Liberal government led by Paul Martin. Cauchon, author of the proposed bill and its staunchest defender, was blindsided Wednesday when cabinet colleague Anne McLellan said all bets are off once Martin assumes the Liberal helm later this fall. "Unless this bill is presented to the House and voted on before the change in leadership, I don't think anyone should assume this draft legislation is the legislation that will ultimately be presented to Parliament," McLellan, a longtime Martin ally and former justice minister, said following a Liberal caucus meeting. "Why wouldn't he take another look at this with whoever is in his cabinet and talk to Canadians about how he wants to move forward?" Moose Jaw, Sask. - Colin Thatcher - the former provincial cabinet minister convicted of murder - returned to the city he calls home Wednesday to begin his second attempt to get an early exit from prison. Thatcher, the 65-year-old son of former premier Ross Thatcher, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years for the 1983 first-degree murder of his ex-wife JoAnn Wilson. Thatcher has always maintained he is not guilty.
