Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper is accusing the Liberal government of deliberately losing a number of court battles over same-sex marriage so it would be forced to redefine marriage.

"I think it's a typical hidden agenda of the Liberal party...They had the courts do it for them, they put the judges in they wanted, then they failed to appeal -- failed to fight the case in court," Harper said at a news conference in the foyer of the Commons.

"I think the federal government deliberately lost this case in court and got the change to the law done through the back door," Harper added.

He said Prime Minister Jean Chretien had decided to support same-sex marriage a long time ago and the fix was in. But a spokesman for Chretien quickly dismissed Harper's charges.

"To question the integrity and impartiality of the justice system is a serious matter," Steven Hogue said. "We find this unacceptable."

Ottawa lost a string of legal battles against same-sex couples in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.

In June, lower courts in Ontario and B.C. allowed same-sex couples to start marrying after declaring that traditional marriage laws were unconstitutional.

Chretien said it would be wrong to appeal the rulings since same-sex marriages were already being performed. Same-sex legislation is expected to be put to free vote in the House of Commons after the next federal election.

The prime minister is scheduled to retire in February 2004. Some members of his party are pushing for the government to deal with the legislation before the next election.

CTV political analyst Craig Oliver reports that some religious groups opposed to same-sex marriage are fishing around for a candidate they can enter in the Liberal leadership contest.

TV evangelist David Maines, the former host of 100 Huntley Street, has started a campaign to draft a Liberal MP to carry the banner against same-sex marriage onto the convention floor. Maines is circulating a letter seeking support and funds for Liberal MP John Bryden.

"Canadians should know that it costs $75,000 just to put your name in for the nomination as a candidate for the leadership race. No backbench MP has that kind of money," Bryden said.

With reports from CTV's Craig Oliver and The Canadian Press