No deal, but that's okay too

The Libs have refused to make a deal over C-48 and the same-sex marriage bill. Ruth has more on that here.

Craig at Conservative Life suggests that the offer of this deal will force the Liberals to be honest with their antsy backbenchers. It seems to have had that effect:

"There is no deal and there will be no deal between the government and the Conservatives to delay the civil marriage legislation until the fall. Period. "But we can guarantee that we will play no part in compromising one bill for another. If this is the path (Tory leader) Stephen Harper selects, we will let him explain to Canadians why affordable housing, environmental protection and aid for the world's poorest should be hostage to his unwillingness to allow a free vote on civil marriage take place," said Liberal spokesman Scott Reid.

But the offer sparked a glimmer of hope for those Liberals who are against C-38:

"The bill appears destined to pass, so why rush it through before summer, asked Ontario MP Paul Szabo. "I want to see the bill dealt with in a manner that no one can say it was rammed through."

I think some Liberals are going to be more disappointed by the hardline by the Liberals than are any Conservatives. Let's hope they have the guts to show it.

Jay Hill summed up the offer this way:

"(One) primary concern of ours is that we get out of the spring session with C-38 not progressing further," Hill said. "If we can get that, it'll be worth our while to see (the budget bill) C-48 go. Because eventually they're going to get C-48 anyway."

When asked how he thought Canadians would react to the Conservatives putting their opposition to the same-sex marriage above their opposition to the budget amendment and Jay Hill responded by reciting the Liberal and NDP line:

"This isn't about what Canadians are concerned about. The reality is it's about trying to make Parliament work," he said.

I love it when they turn things around.

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