(Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) - Adults in Canada are divided over the concept of wedlock for homosexual partners, according to a poll by SES Research. 46 per cent of respondents believe only marriages between a man and a woman should be legally recognized, while 45 per cent think same-sex couples should be allowed to be married.

Over the past two years, the courts in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, and Newfoundland and Labrador have ruled to permit legal same-sex marriages.

On Dec. 9, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of allowing the federal government to go ahead with a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage. The country's foremost tribunal said the constitution protects the rights of homosexual partners to formalize their bonds.

On Feb. 1, the government introduced legislation aimed at legalizing same-sex marriage in the entire country. Prime minister Paul Martin has guaranteed Liberal party members a "free vote" on the bill. The governing Liberals currently control 134 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons. If approved, the law would stipulate that no religious institutions would be forced to perform same-sex marriages.

On Feb. 2, Conservative party leader Stephen Harper said the argument for a nationwide referendum on the issue surfaced because "Canadians sense that they are not being listened to by the government." Justice minister Irwin Cotler dismissed the idea, saying a plebiscite "is not the way to go to protect minority rights."

Polling Data

Some people think that same-sex couples should be allowed to be legally married and be recognized like couples made up of a man and a woman. Other people think that only marriages between a man and a woman should be legally recognized. Which of these two opinions, if either, best reflects your views?

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