Toronto — With an Ontario election looming ever larger, Conservative Premier Ernie Eves played up his religious upbringing for the first time Tuesday as he sought to clarify his position on the thorny issue of same-sex marriage.
Because of his upbringing he doesn't personally support for gay and lesbian marriages, he said.
"I personally believe in heterosexual marriages," said Mr. Eves.
"I grew up in a household where we were all members of the Anglican church. My father was on the board of management there, my mother sang in the choir. I went to Sunday school every Sunday and became an altar boy. I went to church two or three times a week."
Ontario Premier Ernie Eves leaves a news conference at the legislature in Toronto on Tuesday (Frank Gunn/CP)
Mr. Eves, who grew up in Windsor, Ont., said the values instilled in him during his childhood have stayed with him — and that includes opposition to homosexual marriage.
The premier said he didn't believe he had the right, however, to impose his views on others.
While in the past he has said the issue of gay marriage should be left up to the federal government, Mr. Eves urged Ottawa on Tuesday to protect religious rights.
"I do have a responsibility and a role to play as premier of the province to impress upon the federal government that they ... have a role to ensure that churches and religions have their rights protected with respect to what they define as marriage."
He did not say what he expected Ottawa to do.
The federal government under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has opened deep divisions in the Liberal party and drawn fire from as far as the Vatican for its advocacy of same-sex marriage.
Following two provincial court decisions that deemed it discriminatory to define marriage as the union of a man and woman, Mr. Chrétien recently drafted new legislation for the Supreme Court of Canada to consider.
If passed, that legislation would legitimize homosexual marriages.
The proposal sparked anger from religious groups and many federal Liberals who argue the government should propose some kind of civil union instead.
Last year, Mr. Eves called marriage a personal matter and said it was up to Ottawa to define the concept.
As with the tax credit for private schools that Mr. Eves now embraces, critics said he is trying to pander to the religious vote ahead of an election many expect he will call next week.
New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton, a United church member who supports gay marriage, said the premier is on a slippery slope.
"If you start making individual lifestyles a question in an election campaign, then those questions don't end," said Mr. Hampton, referring to the messy divorce Mr. Eves went through in the 1990s and the premier's current common-law relationship with former Tory cabinet minister Isabel Bassett.
"Those questions can be asked of everybody, including Mr. Eves ... and not just Mr. Eves' current relationship but Mr. Eves' past relationship."
Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty, who polls suggest has a good shot at winning the election, said Mr. Eves should stand up for what he believes, not for what pollsters say he should.
Mr. McGuinty, a Roman Catholic, said he supports legalizing same-sex marriages because "it's the right thing" to do.
"Let the chips fall where they may," said Mr. McGuinty.
"My accountability is to a broader constituency, not just Catholics."
