June 21, 2006

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Canada believe homosexual couples should be allowed to legally marry, according to a poll by Environics Research Group released by Canadians for Equal Marriage. 59 per cent of respondents agree that same-sex couples should have the same right to civil marriage as opposite-sex couples.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Canada believe homosexual couples should be allowed to legally marry, according to a poll by Environics Research Group released by Canadians for Equal Marriage. 59 per cent of respondents agree that same-sex couples should have the same right to civil marriage as opposite-sex couples.

In July 2005, Canada legalized same-sex marriage. The legislation covers civil ceremonies, and states that no members of the clergy would be forced to perform a same-sex wedding unless they so desire. More than 10,000 marriage licenses have been issued to gay and lesbian couples in Canada.

Canadians renewed the House of Commons in January. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 36.3 per cent of the vote, and secured 124 seats in the 308-member lower house. Since February, Harper leads a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.

Harper has proposed holding a free vote on the issue in the House of Commons. If a proposal to revise the legislation gets enough support from sitting lawmakers, the government intends to introduce a bill to define marriage as the "union between a man and a woman." 62 per cent of respondents consider the same-sex marriage matter is settled, and 27 per cent would like to re-open the debate.

Last week, Conservative Alberta parliamentarian Blaine Calkins declared, "I'm not in favour of calling a same-sex union a marriage, and I know the majority of my constituents agree with that."

Same-sex marriage is currently legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada, and at least 18 countries offer some form of legal recognition to same sex unions.

Polling Data

In principle, do you agree or disagree that same-sex couples should have the same right to civil marriage as opposite-sex couples?

Strongly agree	36%
Somewhat agree	23%
Somewhat disagree	9%
Strongly disagree	24%
Refused	2%
Don't know	6%

One year ago, Parliament voted to give same-sex couples across Canada the same right to civil marriage as opposite-sex couples. Should the Conservative government re-open this issue and have another vote on this or do you consider this matter to be settled so there should not be another vote?

Matter is settled	62%
Re-open the issue	27%
Refused	2%
Don't know	11%

Source: Environics Research Group / Canadians for Equal Marriage
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,005 Canadian adults, conducted from May 25 to Jun. 2, 2006. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.