Taking aim

The civil union of two male officers from Canada’s iconic mounted police force has caused embarrassment for the ruling Conservative Party, which has promised to re-examine a law enacted last year that legalised same-sex partnerships. Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister, has apparently barred Conservative MPs from speaking out about the Mounties’ civil partnership for fear that rightwingers will “say something stupid” that could cost votes.

Mr Tree, 27, says that he and Mr Connors, 28, have received a flood of “unequivocally positive” e-mails, letters and phone calls from the public, and that their colleagues and bosses have been “completely supportive”. He said: “We have always been treated exactly like any other couple, which is all we’ve ever wanted. We are definitely proud to live in Canada, where respect and tolerance for others is the norm.”

The Liberal Party has rejoiced in the Prime Minister’s discomfort. “I don’t know why Mr Harper is so concerned about whether RCMP officers are straight or not,” said Scott Brison, an openly gay contender for the Liberal leadership. “It doesn’t matter as long as they can shoot straight.”

Times Online

What the Times misses is that this is not a civil partnership or civil union. It's a marriage. Being a UK paper they are interpreting it in line with the UK experience. Odd, I would have expected them to do a better job.

Anyway, Brison's comment is on target :-)