Canada considers same-sex marriage again

OTTAWA, June 3 (UPI) -- The new conservative Canadian government will ask for a new debate on same-sex marriage despite the practice being upheld by the courts.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he would follow through on his campaign pledge to bring the issue up again, though Parliament has previously voted overwhelmingly to allow same-sex marriage.

The Toronto Globe and Mail reports the issue puts Harper in a bind. A large chunk of his base wants same-sex marriage to be overturned.

But in order to retain his majority government in the next election Harper must garner large numbers of voters in Ontario, where most people support same-sex marriage.

Harper's communications director, Sandra Buckler, said Parliament will vote on whether to open debate again on the issue, which may lead to possible votes on changing it.

Even if Parliament acts, the decision may be overturned again as the Supreme Court has said lesbian and gay couples deserve the same rights to marriage as heterosexual couples, the newspaper said.