TORONTO — Ontario's opposition New Democrats plan to force members of the legislature to be on the record when they vote to change the definition of marriage in provincial laws, scuttling earlier reports of an all-party deal for a simple voice-vote.

The Liberal government and the Opposition Conservatives were each hoping for a simple vote on the bill, which amends 73 provincial statutes containing terms such as spouse, marriage and husband and wife to accommodate homosexual marriages.

But The Canadian Press has learned the New Democrats changed their mind Thursday about agreeing to a voice vote, and planned to ask for a recorded vote, where every member of the legislature has to stand instead of simply saying 'Yeah' or 'Nay.'

Sources say the NDP also intended to ask that the vote on changing the definition of marriage be delayed until Monday, ensuring no members can claim they were unaware the vote originally scheduled for Thursday was on the record.

Many Conservative members have already spoken against the legislation, with most insisting it's Ottawa's job, not the province's, to define marriage.

"Even those in this House who agree with that (new) definition also agree that it is the federal Parliament that has jurisdiction over the definition of marriage," Oak Ridges Conservative Frank Klees told the legislature.

"I believe in the traditional definition of marriage as being the indivisible union between one man and one woman," said Conservative John Yakabuski. "To the exclusion of all others."

New Conservative Leader John Tory, who still doesn't have a seat in the legislature - or a vote on the legislation - supports same-sex marriage. But he has left the caucus members free to vote as they wish. Still, it's clear the Opposition leader would prefer a voice vote over seeing the majority of his caucus on record as being against legislation he supports.

A few Liberals spoke in favour of the bill in the legislature, but at least one government member who opposes changing the definition of marriage has spoken up in his local riding.

Niagara Falls Liberal Kim Craitor told the Welland Tribune he will vote against the bill because his constituents also oppose it.

"That's who I am accountable to," said Craitor.

If the legislation was allowed to proceed to a voice vote, the Speaker of the legislature would determine the outcome based on the volume of the 'Yeahs' and 'Nays' yelled by the members.