Polygamy in Canada

Deal and Marjorie,

I was not aware - but it hardly surprised me - that the debate on polygamy is now beginning to get traction in Canada, on the west coast of all places.

During the last federal campaign (2006), when I was running as a conservative candidate, I thought that recognizing fiscal and social benefits for same-sex couples would slow this whole torrent agitated notably by the left.  How was I naive...

But this issue of polygamy is one of the aspects I reflected upon when discussing with people.  After all, if we expand marriage from its traditional definition, what prevents people from distorting it at will?  What now comes from a Mormon sect may well emerge from some radical Islam groups in the future, couldn't it?  In one word, once the door is open, it's hard to close it.

Recently, the Canadian parliament voted not to re-open the marriage issue here (i.e. same-sex marriage remains).  Depending on where this polygamy issue goes, the marriage issue could return on the front scene of our debates.

Unfortunately for the defenders of marriage, Canada does not have an infrastructure comparable to the Christian Right or the conservative movement to advance, defend and make prevail this agenda.  We can observe the emergence of an embryonic conservative movement, with think tanks, blogs and political gains, but the left remains very strong - not to say preeminent - notably in British Columbia and also in Central Canada (Ontario and Quebec).  And these three provinces are the ones with most seats in the House of Commons...

Let's stay tuned on this issue...  And thanks for bringing it up to our attention Marjorie.