Karetak-Lindell recalls yes vote on gay marriage as the ‘right decision’
Nunavut senator reflects on supporting Civil Marriage Act, 20 years later; says it was ‘hardest’ decision she made during her 11 years as MP
Nunavut Sen. Nancy Karetak-Lindell says her 2005 vote to legalize same-sex marriage in Canada was the “right decision.” She was a Liberal MP when Parliament passed the Civil Marriage Act, 20 years ago. (File photo by Corey Larocque)
This June, which is Pride Month, marks the 20th anniversary of a major development in Canadian human rights.
It was early 2005 and the House of Commons was debating the Civil Marriage Act. The bill would legalize same-sex marriage across Canada including in Nunavut, which had not legalized it territorially at that point.
Many MPs, including Nunavut’s Nancy Karetak-Lindell, then part of the Liberal party, faced the question: Will you vote yes or no?
“It was a topic that people felt very, very strongly about,” Karetak-Lindell said recently in an interview, reflecting on the debate.
“For someone who grew up being discriminated in certain areas of my life to that point, I could not see myself as causing discrimination to someone else, whoever that someone else was,” she said.
Then-prime minister Paul Martin allowed Liberal backbench MPs to vote their conscience, meaning they were not obligated to follow the party line.
Karetak-Lindell, who represented Nunavut in Ottawa from 1997 to 2008, called the vote the “hardest” decision she made in her 11 years as an MP. But she ultimately went with her party’s stance, which was yes — same-sex marriage should be legalized.
MPs approved the Civil Marriage Act on June 28, 2005. The vote was 158 in favour, 133 opposed.
The Liberal caucus was split on the vote, with 95 yeas and 32 nays.
“I looked at it as a human rights issue, and I strongly felt that I wanted to be able to look in the mirror… and still feel that I made the right decision.”
Karetak-Lindell was met with some praise when she made her decision public, including from then-Nunavut premier Paul Okalik. She was also met with vitriol, including “personal attacks” from members of her own family, she said.
“It was a very difficult time in my life,” Karetak-Lindell said, adding that her sons had to hear the negative comments people were publicly saying about her over her yes vote.
“But I needed to stand on principle.”
The bill was approved by the Senate the following month and signed into law July 20, 2005. Canada became the third country to legalize same-sex marriage, following the Netherlands and Belgium.
Six months later, after the Jan. 23, 2006, federal election, Stephen Harper’s Conservative party formed a minority government.
But in Nunavut, Karetak-Lindell was re-elected for a fourth term. She saw that win as a sign she did the right thing for Nunavut six months earlier.
“I felt that I still had the support of the people and that they endorsed me by voting for me again,” she said.
Today, as Nunavut’s freshly sworn-in senator, Karetak-Lindell is positioning herself as a representative of the Inuit voice on issues in the Parliament’s upper chamber on issues including access to health care, education opportunities and economic opportunities, as well as decisions about resources and Arctic security.
But still, she says there’s more that needs to be done to advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ rights in the territory.
“There are difficulties for people to be who they want to be in our society, in Nunavut, in our communities,” she said.
“I see Inuit here in Ottawa who have decided to make the south their home – not just Ottawa, but other southern cities – so that they’re able to be comfortable and mostly to be safe in exercising their right to be who they want to be.”
you not listen to the inuit of nunavut and you happy?
She *did* listen to the Inuit of Nunavut, including Inuit of Nunavut who were gay and
being discriminated against, and the Inuit of Nunavut who elected her on a platform of supporting same-sex marriage rights — just not those who would deny human rights to their fellow Inuit (though, to be fair, she likely listened to them too, but decided to vote on the side of fairness and equality instead of prejudice).
Following your logic the candidate in elections with the least number of votes should get elected. Sorry buddy that’s not how it works. LMAOROTF
Dear logic, sometimes leadership means standing against the majority opinion on an issue. You might protest that in a democracy majority opinion rules, but Canada like most western states is a ‘Liberal-Democracy.’ Which is to say minority rights are protected against the will (sometimes tyranny) of the masses. This is the purpose of the Canadian Charter of Rights. By ignoring the prejudice of the many and protecting the rights of the few Nancy made the right decision and is rightfully being remembered and honoured for it.
I would be interested to comment on your logic, but you’ve made it clear that you don’t have any
Long time politicians feel they are invincible and do what they want. She is no different. I don’t even feel their negativity anymore. The whole clan is the same; they’re “better than the rest of us”…
What about the children who grew up with, two same sex parents like come on….
They will feel so different and something is missing! That is a worst discrimination…
Our ancestors who went through a worst rough lives did not ever think that their future grand kids will, disrespect them by marrying a same sex person. As male and female needed to work closely together in order to survive…
Many children in the North are growing up without one functional parent, or with one parent who is struggling to keep their heads above water, or, worse, with a dysfunctional and abusive parent.
And you call it child abuse for a child to grow up with two loving parents, just because they are the same sex? Profoundly ignorant take on what children need and want. They need love, safety, and structure. As far as I can tell, gay parents are just as well placed to provide this as straight parents. Your priorities are skewed by bigotry and church brain-washing.
These are some contenders for all-time moronic comments
That’s not right. Lol
Certain families in Arv and Rankin are always this ignorant, and they came from same stock. They are it far as they’re concerned and will never care for little fellas who have none of their last names….