 There had been discussion regarding a national referendum over the issue of same-sex marriage, which was a highly divisive issue in Canada.A national plebiscite had been suggested by Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and some Conservatives and Liberal backbenchers.However, Paul Martin's Liberal government, with the support of the NDP and Bloc Québécois, passed the "Civil Marriage Act", legalizing same-sex marriage through Parliament in July 2005 without holding a plebiscite.