It's quiet on Parliament Hill today as the House of Commons prepares to pass the controversial same-sex marriage legislation through its third and final reading, says Yukon MP Larry Bagnell.

'The debate right now is very quiet. It's not a raucous debate,' he said in an interview this morning, exactly a year after the Liberals won the 2004 election with a minority government.

'There are only a few people in the House and there's no one in the galleries,' said Bagnell. 'They're almost empty. If there were people against it, you'd think they'd be there demonstrating.'

The bill, C-38 passed through its second-last stage last night by about a 30-vote margin. Bagnell said he doubts there will be much change in that, as most MPs aren't likely to change their vote over of a 24-hour period.

However, Minister of State Joe Comuzzi will be changing his vote today.

The Ontario MP, who had been responsible for a northern Ontario economic development initiative, resigned his position in the cabinet to be able to vote with his conscience during the bill's final reading.

The vote will be a two-tier vote for the Liberals. That means the cabinet will be required to vote in favour of the legislation, but the Liberal backbenchers will be permitted to vote with their conscience.

The Bloc Quebecois and the Conservatives are permitting all their members to vote according to their conscience, but the NDP is 'whipping' its members and forcing them to vote with the party in favour of the legislation.

Bagnell will be voting in favour of the bill and has stated for some time that's where his vote will rest.

'I'm voting with some of (my constituents). The constituents are very split, as they are in the Yukon on a lot of things. There are a number of people who feel very passionately for this and a number of people who feel very passionately against.'

In reaching his decision, Bagnell said, he listened to all sides of the argument. He also talked to hundreds of Yukoners and examined the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

'One thing I can say is that I haven't had a single Yukoner or a single Canadian that has approached me and thinks any Canadian should not be treated equally,' he said. 'So, in that respect, I think I am voting for Canadians and with Yukoners.'

Bagnell said he's glad that the legislation is finally coming to a vote after months of debate and spotlight in the media.

'We've had one of the most lengthy debates of any topic, so it's had a good airing. People feel very passionately on both sides of this, so I think it's good that there's been a long debate, but there's a time when you've got to get on. I think we should get on to other things.'

After today's vote, the bill will go to the Senate before receiving Royal Assent and becoming law.