[JURIST] Canadian Minister of State Joe Comuzzi [official profile] resigned from the government Liberal cabinet Tuesday hours before a scheduled parliamentary vote on a controversial same-sex marriage bill [C-38 text]. Comuzzi, Minister of State for Northern Ontario, informed Prime Minister Paul Martin [official website] early Tuesday that he could not vote in opposition to his constituents, who he claims overwhelmingly oppose government sanctioned marriages for homosexual couples. Martin said in a statement [text] that he was sad to lose the cabinet minister but was pleased Comuzzi was not giving up his seat in the Parliament and planned to run for re-election. The same-sex marriage bill that would legalize gay marriage across Canada is scheduled for a vote at 8:30 PM ET Tuesday and is widely expected to pass. CBC has more.