Go Andy Scott!

[c9]

Canadians for Equal Marriage, the newish lobby group for equal marriage rights in Canada, has started a new campaign which lists specific candidates to support or defeat in the upcoming federal election. There's only three people so far, but they are planning to add more MPs as they continue their research.

Andy Scott, Liberal MP in Fredericton, and (straight) victim of gay-related-issues bashing, is on the good list! Fun.

Why should you care?

• I'm gay, and getting married. leapfish and I have to travel to do it legally. Maybe you don't want to get married, but everybody should get to make the choice themselves, instead of having the government decide for you.
• Conservative groups like Focus on the Family are going to spend millions of dollars on this one issue, trying to prevent equality from gaining ground in Canada.

Fun links:

• Halifax Candidates' Equal Marriage Ratings
• Check your riding based on postal code

Comments

Re: Interesting website...

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

I basically agree with you on the free vote issue. On the concept of free votes, Paul Martin comes out ahead, at least on paper. In practice, it may be a different story. Based on his record of appointing nominees and Cabinet Ministers, Paul Martin has his own techniques of ensuring caucus solidarity.

But come on, you can't seriously disagree that the NDP come out ahead of the Liberals on the issue of gay rights?

And as for respecting Martin? I have more respect for a Grant Hill or a Larry Spencer, who at least are clear on their beliefs and act consistently. Someone who is evasive and wants the courts to decide the issue so he doesn't have to? Politician of the worst sort.

And you jump to conclusions way too quickly about Jack Layton. Just because he's willing to pull rank on an issue which is a core plank in the party platform, and which has overwhelming party support, does not make him dictatorial. I'd say he's far more of a consensus-builder within the party than any of the other leaders are in theirs.

And as for your suggestion that the NDP's numbers are misleading because they only have 14 members vs. the Liberals' 170--well, that's why we break these things into percentages for the sake of comparison.