Martin Liberal — same-sex marriage, Kelowna Accord, sponsorship fallout

Doctrine — stated goals and content

Liberal centre-left minority government dominated by the Gomery sponsorship-scandal inquiry and a short burst of social-liberal legislation. Five doctrinal pillars: (a) Civil Marriage Act 2005 (S.C. 2005 c.33, 20 July 2005) — codified same-sex marriage federally after provincial-court rulings; Canada became 4th country globally to legalise. (b) Kelowna Accord (24-25 November 2005) — $5.1B ten-year federal-provincial-Indigenous framework agreement on health, education, housing, economic opportunities; cancelled by incoming Harper government 2006. (c) Gomery Commission (Feb 2004 - Nov 2005) — public inquiry into Chrétien- era sponsorship programme; Phase I 1 November 2005 report implicated PMO and Liberal Party; triggered 28 November 2005 confidence-vote loss 133-171. (d) Health Accord (Sept 2004) — $41B over 10 years to provinces for wait-times and primary care. (e) Budget 2005 + NDP amendment — $4.6B reallocation to social programs to keep minority alive. Stated school: Liberal social- democratic with fiscal-moderate continuation; sharper left-tilt vs Chrétien. Left-right: centre-left. Popularity: June 2004 reduced to minority (36.7% 135 seats); 23 January 2006 election Liberals 30.2% 103 seats, Conservatives 36.3% 124 seats formed minority; Martin resigned as Liberal leader election night. Coherence: trade Chrétien-era durable majority for social-liberal legislation burst and Indigenous framework — undone by scandal timing and Harper cancellation of Kelowna.