Religious leaders claimed their clergy could be forced to perform gay marriages rather than risking being taken to human rights tribunals if they refused. The Catholic church - the largest religion in Canada - is strongly opposed to the new legislation. The junior cabinet minister Joe Comuzzi, responsible for development in northern Ontario, resigned on Tuesday rather than voting on the issue. The legislation split the Liberal party, with 158 MPs voting to pass the bill and 133 against. A right is a right, and that is what this vote tonight is all about.' 'And in a nation of minorities, it is important that you don't cherry-pick rights.
'We are a nation of minorities,' Mr Martin said. The bill - drafted by the minority Liberal party government of the Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin - has been hailed as a step forward for human rights. The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other countries to allow gay marriages. Gay marriage is already legal in seven provinces in Canada, but the new legislation grants same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples nationwide.
