CC-Montréal -- One of the most talked about controversies in the current Canadian political scene is legalizing marijuana, U.S. foreign policy and same sex marriage laws. The latter seems to be the most split both within the Canadian population and the liberal party it's self.

While Jean Chretien fully supports the move to give same sex partners equal rights to their heterosexual counterparts, his followers and liberal backbenchers are split almost 50/50. While Paul Martin, Chretien's successor to the thrown as prime minister fully supported the move to give equal rights to same sex couples, he's recently changed his position to debate the topic.

Many see this sudden change-in-stance as cowardly, he's probably done it to gain support in an upcoming federal election in which some polls indicate the support for liberals has decreased since same-sex unions came up again. Or would it be a question in the everlasting rivalry between Martin and Chretien? Possibly a combination of both.

In an open discussion with Paul Martin, courtesy CBC, Martin continually avoided the real answer to why same-sex marriage has been put on the back burner until after election time. The prime minister's remarks on the subject were unclear, saying what he believes in is our constitution and the rights that everybody should have in Canada.

In the end, it all comes down to a question of whether the religious views of some should infringe on the equal rights of others. In a very complex situation, the supporters of same-sex marriage want equal rights to be given to same-sex couples in all ways as a traditional marriage. Why should they not enjoy the rights everybody should have is the question in many minds. In a country like Canada, even the United States [which preaches (or sells?) equal rights], a question of what church thinks should not concern the state. More so, even the majority of people should not be allowed to infringe on equal rights of minorities. Would Canada's prospering minorities be as they are today if the majority had a say? No.

It's hard to come to the conclusion of what Canadians really think about this topic. The only people who are really coming out to say something are the minority fighting for their equal rights and the hard-liner protesters. Both are a very small minority in this country, but most Canadians don't really seem to give much thought to it.

At the moment, Ontario and British Columbia courts have ruled in favour of equal rights legislation giving anyone in those provinces the right to marry their partner whether they be gay or straight. A question lingering in the minds of Canadians is whether or not this legislation will pass as the new liberal government is sworn in. Time will tell the outcome.

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