Paul Martin's Liberal government could lose a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday that would lengthen the current session of Parliament to pass same-sex marriage legislation.
FROM JUNE 20, 2005: Liberals want to extend Parliament
Some backbench Liberals who are against same-sex marriage could join with the Opposition to defeat the plan to extend Parliament.
The Bloc QuÃ©bÃ©cois has already said it will not support the measure.
FROM JUNE 21, 2005: BQ says it wants Liberals to promise same-sex vote in writing
The "real" reason Martin wants to continue Parliament is to pass the budget deal reached between the Liberals and the NDP that adds some $4.6 billion in spending, Bloc House leader Michel Gauthier said.
Some Liberal backbenchers say their party is squeezing them by linking both same-sex marriage legislation and passage of the budget to the session extension.
They would support the budget, but not same-sex marriage, which some said should be put off until the fall.
Liberal MP Paul Szabo said "yes" when asked if the marriage bill could be delayed. "You'll see ... on Thursday," he added.
If the vote to extend the session fails, Liberal House leader Tony Valeri said he would ask the Speaker of the House to recall Parliament as a matter of pressing public interest.
"I will look to deal with â and am committed to deal with â 48 and 38 at all stages," said Valeri, referring to the budget and same-sex marriage bills, respectively.
Still, Liberal officials were working out before the vote whether to force party members to toe the line by threatening expulsion from caucus.
"We'll certainly be doing the numbers," Liberal whip Karen Redman said.
Meantime, the NDP welcomed the effort to pass both bills, saying the government could not abandon public pronouncements linking both bills to extending Parliament.
"If Mr. Valeri goes back on his word ... I think he would have a huge credibility problem," NDP House leader Libby Davies said.
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal government is planning on passing the same-sex marriage bill, Bill C-38, before the spring session winds up. The gay-marriage bill is being linked with the passage of a $4.6 million budget bill that provides more money directed at social services and foreign aid. The two bills will be the final confidence vote until the fall.

The opposition, the Conservative party, has vowed to do everything it can to defeat the Liberal government unless they pull the vote and wait until fall.  Liberal House leader Tony Valeri tabled a notion early Tuesday to extend the spring sitting, delaying the scheduled summer break.  The Liberal party is facing resistance from several of its backbenchers, some of who believe the marriage bill should be delayed until the fall.

At least three Liberal MPs have indicated that they might vote against the gay marriage bill along with the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois. If the motion were defeated, the government would be forced to resign.