The Conservative government plans to table a motion in early December to reopen the same-sex marriage debate, CTV News has learned.

The motion, which would call for a free vote on the issue, is expected to be presented within days of the Liberal party's leadership convention in Montreal on Dec. 2.

Political analysts say the move will maximize political trouble for the new Liberal leader, who would suddenly be faced with a decision on whether to allow individual MPs to vote their conscience.

In last year's vote to legalize same-sex marriage, only Liberal backbenchers had permission to vote freely. Ministers were told to support the bill.

In the end, with the support of the majority of Liberal, Bloc and New Democrat MPs, Bill C-38 easily passed in a 158 to 133 vote.

About three dozen Liberal backbenchers voted against the legislation. And Ontario Liberal MP Joe Comuzzi left his cabinet post to vote against the government.

Analysts say December's expected motion to revisit the debate will most likely fail. The NDP officially supports same-sex marriage, along with the vast majority of Bloc MPs and at least half of all Liberals MPs.

But the Conservatives made a campaign pledge to revisit the divisive debate, initially saying they would push for a free vote this fall.

At last month's National Marriage Caucus on Parliament Hill, religious leaders debated reopening Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act.

The Unitarian Church held a press conference backing the bill, with spokesperson Elizabeth Bowden arguing that "no couple should be excluded from marriage simply because of their sexual orientation."

Meanwhile, Rabbi Steven Garten of Temple Israel in Ottawa spoke out against a pushing predominantly Christian-based opposition to same-sex marriage on the rest of society.

"The Jewish community is not of one mind about the sanctity of marriage," said Garten. "However it is of one mind about one religion imposing limitations on the beliefs of the others."

But Louis Deserres of Vote Marriage Canada said the bill may protect the rights of same-sex couples at the expense of their children.

"Children have a right and it's confirmed by nature," said Deserres, "Same-sex marriage says it's legal and acceptable to take away the natural parent of a child."