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(Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) - Many adults in British Columbia support the concept of wedlock for gay and lesbian partners, according to a poll by Mustel. 56 per cent of respondents in the Canadian province support the bill introduced by the federal Liberal party to allow same-sex marriage.

Over the past two years, the courts in eight Canadian provinces—including BC—have permitted legal same-sex marriages. On Dec. 9, Canada's 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 federal 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, saying he expects cabinet members and parliamentary secretaries to support it.

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.

Conservative party leader Stephen Harper and Giles Duceppe of the Bloc Québécois have guaranteed a "free vote" for a combined 153 lawmakers. The New Democratic Party's Jack Layton said he expects his party's 19 representatives to support the bill.

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose the federal Liberals bill allowing same-sex marriage?

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