If you need further proof that Canada is carnival funhouse mirror America, here it is: Canada's parliament is locked in a filibuster struggle of its own, only this time it's the conservatives who are playing "hard-to-vote":
Parliament may sit all summer to pass budget, same-sex legislation
Last Updated Mon, 20 Jun 2005 19:56:27 EDT - CBC News
The Liberal government is now prepared to sit through the summer to pass its final budget bill and legislation legalizing same-sex marriage.
Government House leader Tony Valeri notified MPs of the plan on Monday, amid signs that the Conservatives will not allow the government's budget deal with the NDP to come to a vote.
"They [the Conservatives] continue to put up speakers and filibuster legislation," said Valeri.
...
But Valeri says the government is determined to pass its budget bill, which provides $4.6 billion in spending on social programs in return for NDP support in the Commons. The Liberals also want to push through Bill C-38, the bill to legalize same-sex marriage.
Last week, Prime Minister Paul Martin said the bill wouldn't become law until the
fall because of delaying tactics by the Conservatives.
...
For their part the Conservatives make no apologies for using parliamentary tactics to stymie same-sex marriage, along with the Liberal budget.
"It's not the responsibility of the official Opposition to help the government achieve
its agenda when its agenda consists of two bills that we're strongly opposed to," said Opposition House leader Jay Hill.
...They also sell weed in pill form up there, man. |
