<% IssueDate = "6/18/03" IssueCategory = "Events" %>

Top Story Canada Announces There Will Be No Appeal Against Marriages Government will Re-Write Law to Include Same-Sex Matrimony Nation to Be Third Country to Allow for Gay/Lesbian Weddings Compiled by GayToday Ottawa, Canada-In spite of the intense anger that is being expressed by a number of politicians and by fundamentalist religious groups, Canada's federal government is now preparing to re-write the definition of marriage to include same-sex nuptials, according to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. While Belgium and the Netherlands have already legalized same-sex marriages, Canada has become the globe's third nation to permit such weddings. According to the Toronto Star: "Bitterly divided federal Liberals did not willingly become trailblazers." The Canadian government has found itself forced to act after court rulings struck down old-fashioned marriage laws in major provinces such as Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, ruling that the exclusion of gays and lesbians is an unjust violation of equality rights. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced his government will re-write the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples Prime Minister Chrétien promises to attempt the calming of some outraged members of his own party by assuring them that the decision will not prevent certain religious denominations from expressing disapproval of same-sex marriages. He said: "We'll be proposing legislation that will protect the right of churches and religious organizations to sanctify marriage as they define it. At the same time, we will ensure that our legislation includes and legally recognize the union of same-sex marriage. "As soon as the legislation is drafted, it will be referred to the Supreme Court. After that, it will be put to a free vote in the House of Commons. Composing the re-written law to include the momentous change will take only two weeks, a drafting period that is considered "unusually speedy" for such a controversial legislative move, according to the Star. Prime Minister Chrétien defended the quick pace, saying, "We don't want there to be a long period of uncertainty…We want to complete this file and deal with it as quickly as possible, and as soon as we have the reference then the House of Commons will vote." Last week an appeals court in Ottawa declared the old marriage laws unconstitutional -- effective immediately - and forced the federal government to choose between fighting its decision in court or re-writing the traditional matrimonial laws. Deputy Prime Minister John Manley expressed a sense of inevitability about the government's capitulation to the courts: "I think on balance people recognize that the decisions of the courts are really pointing in a direction from which it would be difficult - if we wanted to - to turn back… I think that's a recognition of the fact that society has changed. The courts have recognized it and government needs to recognize it as well."

For More ... Related Stories Canadian Appeals Court Affirms Same-Sex Marriage Rights Same Sex Couples from Foreign Lands Can Marry in Ontario Canadian Court Mandates Same-Sex Marriages Related Sites Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

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