OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada may become the third country to legalize same-sex “marriage” after its Supreme Court ruled Dec. 9 that Parliament has the authority to change the nation’s marriage laws.
Same-sex “marriage” already is legal in five of the 10 provinces and in one territory, but the federal government — ruled by the Liberal Party — is moving to legalize it nationwide.
In the summer of 2003 the Liberals drew up a bill and sent a list of questions to the high court, asking if the federal government had the authority to legalize same-sex “marriage.” The court heard arguments in October and issued its landmark decision Dec. 9. The ruling in essence is an advisory opinion.
Parliament will now debate the bill, which redefines marriage to mean the “lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others.”
“Several centuries ago it would have been understood that marriage should be available only to opposite-sex couples,” the court wrote. “The recognition of same-sex ‘marriage’ in several Canadian jurisdictions as well as two European countries belies the assertion that the same is true today.”
Canada would join Belgium and the Netherlands as the only countries to legalize same-sex “marriage.” It is also legal in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.
(TAB)
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