Canadians for Equal Marriage<br>
Canadiens et Canadiennes pour le droit égal au mariage<br><br>

Press Release / Communiqué<br>
EQUAL MARRIAGE SUPPORTERS RESPOND TO VIC TOEWS<br><br>

(OTTAWA - April 5, 2006) Canadians for Equal Marriage is disappointed that the government is going ahead with its plan to re-open the equal marriage issue. This afternoon, Justice Minister Vic Toews announced that the government would hold a vote on re-opening the issue "sooner rather than later."<br><br>

"Canadians overwhelmingly oppose re-opening this deeply divisive debate," said Kaj Hasselriis, national spokesperson of Canadians for Equal Marriage. "They want the new government to tackle fresh priorities, not roll back the clock on equality."<br><br>

Hasselriis pointed to two recent Environics polls, published November 29, 2005 and January 24, 2006, which showed that two-thirds of Canadians are against re-opening the equal marriage debate. As well, a recent survey of Canada's top executives revealed a strong consensus against re-opening the issue.<br><br>

In its election platform, the Conservative party said a vote to re-open equal marriage would be held in the first session of Parliament. Canadians for Equal Marriage wants to know: Does "sooner rather than later" mean
the first session?<br><br>

"With a vote hanging over our heads, our rights and our lives are uncertain," said Laurie Arron, national coordinator of Canadians for Equal Marriage. "We don't want this hanging over us for years. It's time to close the book on re-opening this divisive debate."

Added Hasselriis: "All we're asking is to be treated with the same level of fairness, certainty and equality as everyone else."