Canadian Parliament to have free vote on same sex marriage

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday that his government intends to fulfill an early campaign commitment by holding a free vote on same-sex marriage in the fall.

"It will be a free vote and the vote will be in the autumn," Harper told reporters in Montreal.

The Conservatives, who won the Jan. 23 vote, campaigned on a pledge to allow a vote on whether to reopen the divisive same-sex marriage law. That came in response to complaints that the Liberals rushed it the law through last summer.

If MPs approve the idea of addressing same-sex unions, the government would then introduce legislation changing the definition of marriage back to that of a union between a man and a woman.

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY COMMENTS:

The Prime Minister made a commitment to have a free vote on the same sex marriage law and I commend him for being true to his word.

It will be a highly controversial and close vote.