The Liberal minority of the Canadian government has filed a bill in the House of Commons to legalize gay marriage nationwide with the strong backing of Prime Minister Paul Martin who argued that Canada is “‘a country of minorities'” and one “‘where minorities are protected.'” Martin, who has said that he would call early elections to defend same-sex couples’ right to marry, insisted on a clause protecting any place of worship from being required to perform gay marriages. Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, who formally introduced the bill, argued that the legislation reflects Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedom and that it must therefore be passed, saying, “‘Canada cannot and will not pick and choose which rights they would defend and ignore.'”