Cotler wants gay marriage, pot bills to pass
Justice Minister Irwin Cotler says he hopes both his government's same-sex marriage and marijuana decriminalization bills will become law soon -- but suggested that was up to the opposition parties.
But, "I'm not sure because with this Parliament you can't be too sure about many things, particularly in a minority government situation," he told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.
Noting the poisonous mood that tainted Parliament before the May 20 budget vote, Cotler said, "When we return tomorrow, we'll see whether we'll have a more civil atmosphere."
While the NDP and Bloc Quebecois generally support Bill C-38, the legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage, the Conservative Party strongly opposes it.
The bill has survived first and second reading votes and is now in committee.
"I'm hoping that the committee would appreciate that this is not something that we're looking at for the first time," Cotler said, nothing a prior committee heard from 300 witnesses in 2003.
"I hope what we can have is democratic discussion but not filibustering and thereby, you know, obstructing," he said.
"Canadians have declared themselves, Parliament has declared themselves, the courts have declared themselves. I think we have to move forward."
Cotler hoped the bill would pass before Parliament adjourns on June 23.
He also said, in response to a question, the government had not lost its nerve on the marijuana decriminalization legislation.
"People talk about decriminalization, they figure we legalized marijuana," he said.
"We have to make it clear we're talking about an alternate penalties framework. We don't want to criminalize a younger generation, but marijuana use, small amounts for personal use, still remains illegal."
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