Liberals defend use of Scheer’s anti-same-sex marriage speech

Regina-Wascana Liberal MP Ralph Goodale defended Friday the use of a 14-year-old video of Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer speaking out against same-sex marriage.

“For a young person in rural Saskatchewan who may be struggling with (LGBTQ+) issues and aren’t feeling safe, it would be a great reassurance to see the complete roster of all of those who seek to be the next prime minister of Canada saying unequivocally, without question, ‘We’ve got your back,’ ” Goodale explained.

In the clip posted by Goodale on Twitter on Thursday morning, Scheer argues in the House of Commons how — legal or not — same-sex marriage can never truly be marriage because the couple cannot naturally have kids.

“There is nothing more important to society than the raising of children, for its very survival requires it. Homosexual unions are by nature contradictory to this,” Scheer said in the 2005 speech, which he delivered roughly a year after he was first elected as the Conservative MP for Regina-Qu’Appelle.

“Two members of the same sex may use their God-given free will to engage in acts, to co-habit and to own property together. They may commit themselves to monogamy. They may pledge to remain in a loving relationship for life,” Scheer continued.

“In that sense, they have many of the collateral features of marriage, but they do not have its inherent feature as they cannot commit to the natural procreation of children. They cannot therefore be married.”

To be a leader for all Canadians, the Conservative Party leader should now end his lifelong boycott of Pride events and explain whether he would still deny same-sex couples the right to marry, as he said in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/5WEyja6Ov5

— Ralph Goodale (@RalphGoodale) August 22, 2019

At the time, most Conservative MPs voted against the bill, along with a number of Liberal MPs — some of whom remain in caucus.

Goodale supported the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005. But before that, the longtime Regina MP also voted in favour of a 1999 motion saying it was necessary for Parliament to state that marriage needs to remain between a man and a woman.

Goodale also voted against a private member’s motion asking for the recognition of same-sex spouses in 1995.

On Friday, Goodale told reporters that since those votes were held in the 1990s, his feelings have evolved.

“The world has moved along in a constructive, progressive, inclusive direction. It’s important for all political leaders to demonstrate they’re a part of that,” he said.

When asked if he thinks it’s possible Scheer has also changed his views since his 2005 speech, Goodale said it’s “not clear,” noting Scheer’s apparent boycott of Pride parades adds to the ambiguity.

When the same-sex marriage vote took place a decade and a half ago, @AndrewScheer voted the way several Liberals did, including some who currently sit in the Liberal caucus and are running for re-election as Liberal candidates under Justin Trudeau. (1/3)

— Brock W. Harrison 🇨🇦 (@BrockWHarrison) August 22, 2019

In response to the pre-election-attack video, the Conservative party’s communications director, Brock Harrison, took to Twitter Thursday morning to assure voters of Scheer’s current views.

“Mr. Scheer supports same-sex marriage as defined in law and as Prime Minister will, of course, uphold it,” Harrison tweeted. “This is yet another desperation tactic from (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau on the eve of an election to distract from his record of failure and incompetence.”

The records of Goodale and Trudeau also have been publicly criticized on billboards that have sprung up around Regina. Goodale previously compared the ads to those one would see in American election campaigns.

When asked Friday how the Liberals’ use of the Scheer video differs from the billboards, Goodale replied: “Those are Mr. Scheer’s own words.”

— With files from the Canadian Press