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LIBERALS TURN A BLIND EYE ON ILLEGAL POLYGAMIST MARRIAGES & WILL NOT STAND UP FOR EQAULITY OF WOMEN   (QUEEN’S PARK)- Tory MPP Lisa MacLeod continued to press the McGuinty Liberals to uphold Canadian marriage laws and gender equality. In the Ontario Legislature today MacLeod demanded that the Minister responsible for Women’s Issues take a stand on illegal polygamist marriages.  The Minister refused to answer the question and instead passed the buck. “By not responding, the Liberals are trivializing women’s rights and the rule of law,” stated MacLeod.  “Ontario women deserve better than a government who ‘hears no evil or sees no evil’ despite the documented evidence in several media outlets." In recent articles in the Toronto Star and talk radio programs, it has been well documented that illegal polygamist marriages are taking place in Toronto.  One Imam has openly admitted that he has performed illegal polygamist marriages. -30- For more information please contact Jad Haffar, 416-325-6351 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO Wednesday 28 May 2008 Ms. Lisa MacLeod: To the minister responsible for women’s issues: Can she inform this House where she stands on Toronto’s dirty little secret, the illegal polygamist marriages that are taking place right under her nose at the expense of gender equality in Ontario? Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Government and Consumer Services. Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Point of order: Mr. Speaker, under section 37(e), I don’t think that this qualifies as a responsible referral— The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): It’s not a point of order. The minister has the ability to refer. Hon. Ted McMeekin: Polygamy is a serious crime in Ontario. It’s not something that’s tolerated. As you know, the best advice I can give the honourable member opposite is that if she has any evidence that someone is engaging in multiple marriages, she should report it, because our Registrar General and our official reporting mechanisms have no evidence that that’s happening. As you know, Mr. Speaker, marriage is a contract. A contract require a licence, and once a marriage occurs, it has to be registered. There are no multiple marriages being registered in the province of Ontario. Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Back to the minister responsible for women’s issues: I don’t buy for one minute that the government doesn’t read the Toronto Star or listen to 640 AM, where imams have openly admitted to officiating polygamist marriages in Ontario. To the minister of women’s issues: If you agree that women in this province are equal citizens under the law, why are you allowing polygamy to occur under your watch? Have you brought your concerns to the Minister of Government Services, to the Attorney General and to the Human Rights Commission to uphold the rule of law and gender equality in Ontario? If so, will you table the document? If not, why have you done nothing? Hon. Ted McMeekin: We’ve already answered that question.