September 6, 2006
For Immediate Release
Wallace polls Burlington on same sex marriage.

BURLINGTON-MP Mike Wallace says he will vote to reopen the issue of same-sex marriage when the issue goes before Parliament this fall.

Earlier this summer, Prime Minister Harper announced that MPs would vote this fall on a motion asking them if they want to repeal the one-year-old law that was passed by the previous Liberal government as C-38. He promised during the winter election campaign that a Conservative government would introduce a motion asking if a majority of MPs want to reopen debate on the legislation.

Mr. Wallace is following through on this commitment. During his own election campaign he promised to commission a public third party poll on the issue to determine the opinion of his constituency.

The poll, conducted by independent firm Hollinshed Research, provided the following data:

A slight majority, 52.8% of respondents supported the right of same sex couples to be married, while 37.2% were opposed.

Results also showed that 48.7% wanted the federal government to revisit the issue of the definition of marriage. Further, if the issue was revisited a slight majority, 50.7% supported the creation of a civil union for same sex couples that is called something other than marriage.

Further examination of the data revealed a correlation between respondents who supported the right of same sex couples to be married and those who support the creation of a civil union. Almost 2/3 (58.1%), of respondents who support the right of same sex couples to be married also support the idea of creating a civil union. Such legislation to varying degrees now exists in Britain, France, Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark and Germany.

The poll included a sample size of 400 adults living within the riding of Burlington with a 50/50 split between men and women. The poll resulted in a sample that has 95% confidence, or is accurate to within 4% 19 times out of 20. It is considered a statistically accurate representation of the opinion of the constituents of the riding of Burlington. It was conducted in June 2006.

“My personal goal is to open up the debate and get the Government of Canada out of the marriage business. I want to leave marriage to the church organizations in Canada and the government can then create a civil union that protects all couples” Said Mr. Wallace.

For further information please contact:

Mike Wallace, MP Burlington
Telephone: 905 639 5757
E-mail: wallam1@parl.gc.ca