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Marriage debate detracts from issues: MP

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.

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.

The same-sex marriage debate serves as a smokescreen that allows the Liberals to flee from matters of greater significance to many Canadians, Flin Flon MP Bev Desjarlais said Saturday. "A major concern that people are having is that... the Liberals have used this debate to get away from dealing with the issues that are directly hitting Canadians at home right now," she said following an NDP executive meeting held at the Labour Temple in Flin Flon. Desjarlais said those issues include support for farmers hurt by the Mad Cow Disease crisis, health care concerns and changes to EI legislation. "I think it's important that we make sure the government gets those issues back front and centre and start dealing with them," she said. Desjarlais has made headlines by saying she will oppose same-sex marriage legislation, a position that goes against the policy of her New Democratic Party. She said the majority of constituents who have discussed the matter with her are supportive, but she has also heard from strong critics of her stance. "I've indicated before, it's very emotional for both sides," said the MP. "The decision that I've made... there's people who support it and there's people who don't agree with me. "I have received letters and calls from those who don't agree, but still, I think that most have been supportive. I have not tried to lay this one on the constituency in that regard, though. This is one of those issues where it's my personal conscience that I'm dealing with and an issue that I've wrestled with for a number of years." Desjarlais recently abstained from a House of Commons vote on a Canadian Alliance motion to preserve the traditional definition of marriage. She said she had made no secret of her intent to forgo her vote. "Obviously, the decision I've made to not support the legislation is, you know, a contentious issue within our caucus," said Desjarlais. "I wasn't open to, I've used the terminology, rubbing salt in a wound." Flin Flon MLA Gerard Jennissen, a fellow member of the NDP, said he supports Desjarlais' democratic right to follow her beliefs. "There is a freedom of thought and there is a freedom of conscience, and if people feel strongly about this issue, they're free to speak out," he said. "There is usually a penalty to this because there is such a thing as a party direction and a party line, but this is a democracy. People have the freedom to express their opinions." Jennissen compared same-sex marriage to other contentious issues such as abortion and marijuana legalization, saying opinions on current marriage laws are firmly held by opponents and proponents. See 'Opinions' P.# Con't from P.# "... in most cases, even if you don't agree with your party, you tend to go along with it," he said. "But sometimes there are such strongly felt opinions on an issue that an individual will go against his or her party, and this must have been the case. I defend people's right to speak their conscience, but at the same time they have to be mindful of what the consequences can be, and I'm sure Bev is." Based on the number of constituents who have spoken to him about same-sex marriage, the MLA said it hasn't been "a major issue." "But I have had people supporting Bev's position strongly and I've had people condemning Bev's position strongly, and they're all New Democrats," he said. Despite strong feelings from both sides, Desjarlais said she doesn't feel her stance on the issue will divide her constituents. "I don't see it as being a divisive issue," she said. "It's one issue amongst many that we deal with, and hopefully it will work out okay." Jennissen and Desjarlais have different opinions about the likelihood of same-sex marriage legislation passing. "The courts have decided this is the direction we're going, the federal government is following suit, and it looks like it's going to become the law," said Jennissen. "Whether we like it or not, that's the way it appears to be developing." Desjarlais wasn't so sure. "I don't know one way or the other," she said. "It may not come up in the next number of months or the next year or so. We don't know. It all depends on what the government decides to do with it."

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