New Zealand's so-called liberal solution to the issue of same-sex marriage – civil unions – is Canada's conservative compromise, says a NZ Herald columnist. Noting the introduction by the Canadian government of legislation to legalise same-sex marriage in Canada this week, columnist Guy Wilson-Roberts wrote that Canada's PM was so confident that same-sex marriage had popular support that he was willing to go into an election on it. "The concept of civil union - New Zealand's liberal answer to the question of recognition for same-sex partnerships - is in Canada the compromise offered by the conservative opposition," he wrote. "Prime Minister Martin's threat to call an election on this issue is seen by many commentators as a means to pull his backbench MPs into line to support the legislation. Clever politics or grandstanding aside, though, it was a gutsy position to take. One cannot help but wonder if a New Zealand Prime Minister will ever be prepared to do the same in support of a new definition of marriage."
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 5th February 2005 - 12:00pm