CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The Canadian government on Thursday unveiled a draft law rewriting the country's official definition of marriage to a "lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others." The one-page gay marriage bill was also being forwarded Thursday to the Canadian supreme court for review, but a judicial response is not expected until October, when the justices are set to reconvene. The federal government has said it would like to tackle the legislation this fall in the House of Commons and have the new law in place by the time Prime Minister Jean Chretien retires in February. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is asking the supreme court to review the proposed legislation and offer an opinion on whether it is consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The government is also asking the court whether the proposed change is within the legislative authority of parliament. According to the Toronto Star, the government is hoping the court will rule that Ottawa has exclusive jurisdiction over marriage, thwarting Alberta's threat not to distribute marriage licenses to gays and lesbians. A third question being referred to the court asks whether religious freedom guarantees in the charter protect religious officials from being compelled to perform same-sex marriages if such marriages are contrary to their beliefs. As the country's gay rights activists are hailing the legislation and expressing confidence that it will pass, many religious conservatives are making clear their intent to defeat it. The Canada Family Action Coalition is already fund-raising for its "defense of marriage" campaign, which will feature ads that attempt to influence lawmakers to vote against the bill. The coalition and other groups have launched an application to appeal last month's Ontario appeals court decision opening the door to gay marriage. Normally, only the losing side can appeal to the supreme court, but the coalition's lawyers believe there is precedent to allow a third party to do so. The court isn't limited to considering only the questions the federal government provides; it could ask--and then answer--some of its own. It could take many months before the court holds a hearing on the reference and delivers a judgment, government officials said.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Record 1.2 million people show out for Cologne’s Pride parade
July 23 2024 10:51 AM
Here's how far-right activist Leonard Leo helped fund Bud Light boycott
July 23 2024 10:27 AM
Elon Musk’s comments about his trans daughter prove why she doesn’t speak to him
July 23 2024 9:16 AM
Nancy Pelosi endorses Kamala Harris for president
July 22 2024 4:07 PM
Charli XCX declares Kamala Harris IS brat & our next President's campaign agrees
July 22 2024 3:08 PM
Pete Buttigieg roasts JD Vance and his gay tech bro billionaire
July 22 2024 1:42 PM
The AIDs pandemic can be ended by 2030, but governments must act: report
July 22 2024 1:01 PM
Conservatives' first attack on Kamala Harris: Pronouns and accessibility?
July 22 2024 12:45 PM
Advancing equality during Disability Pride Month
July 22 2024 11:30 AM