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a little step forward

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Supreme Court OK's same-sex marriage
Last Updated Thu, 09 Dec 2004 14:04:43 EST

OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada says the federal government can change the definition of marriage, giving gays and lesbians the legal right to marry.

The Supreme Court decision

In a non-binding opinion released Thursday morning, the court reaffirmed religious freedoms under the Charter, saying religious officials opposed to same-sex marriages do not have to perform them.
It declined to answer a fourth question added by Paul Martin when he became prime minister: whether the current definition of marriage as a man and a woman was unconstitutional.

But the court said that by failing to appeal a number of lower court rulings that said excluding gays from marriage was discriminatory, the federal government had already accepted that position.

"The government has clearly accepted these decisions and adopted this position as its own," the court wrote.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said the court's decision to "punt" the issue back to Parliament was not what the prime minister expected, and fell in line with the Tory position.

The court rejected the argument that the traditional definition of marriage is rooted in history, saying times have changed.

"Several centuries ago it would have been understood that marriage should be available only to opposite-sex couples. 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," wrote the court.

"I feel it is a clear green light in favour of equal marriage," said Martha McCarthy, a lawyer for same-sex couples.

Groups opposed to same-sex marriage reacted swiftly, as Gwen Landolt with Real Women and Catholic Civil Rights League member Richard Bastien called for a referendum on the issue. Landolt says the traditional definition of marriage should be enshrined in the constitution.

Prime Minister Paul Martin said he would introduce the bill to Parliament in January.

Martin has asked MPs to support the bill, but has also told them it will be a free vote.

The Liberals hold a thin minority government, with 134 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons, but should have the support of most or all of the 19 New Democrat MPs and 54 Bloc Québécois MPs.

NDP Leader Jack Layton has said his caucus will vote in favour of the bill, while Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, whose party is split on the issue, says it will be a free vote.

If passed, Canada would join Belgium and the Netherlands in making gay marriage legal nationwide.

Chrétien sent bill to court

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien sent the issue to the Supreme Court following a June 2003 ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal allowing same-sex unions.

Ottawa has proposed changing the definition of marriage to the "lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others" rather than the "lawful union of one man and one woman."

Before taking it to Parliament, Chrétien referred the proposed bill to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to offer a non-binding opinion on three questions, including whether the government could redefine marriage, whether it supported the Charter of Rights and whether church groups had to perform the ceremonies.

When he became prime minister one year ago, Paul Martin added a fourth question: whether limiting marriage to a man and a woman was unconstitutional.

Along with Ontario, court rulings have now made same-sex marriage legal in British Columbia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and the Yukon.

Written by CBC News Online staff更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
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Replies, comments and Discussions:

  • 枫下茶话 / 社会 / a little step forward
    本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Supreme Court OK's same-sex marriage
    Last Updated Thu, 09 Dec 2004 14:04:43 EST

    OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada says the federal government can change the definition of marriage, giving gays and lesbians the legal right to marry.

    The Supreme Court decision

    In a non-binding opinion released Thursday morning, the court reaffirmed religious freedoms under the Charter, saying religious officials opposed to same-sex marriages do not have to perform them.
    It declined to answer a fourth question added by Paul Martin when he became prime minister: whether the current definition of marriage as a man and a woman was unconstitutional.

    But the court said that by failing to appeal a number of lower court rulings that said excluding gays from marriage was discriminatory, the federal government had already accepted that position.

    "The government has clearly accepted these decisions and adopted this position as its own," the court wrote.

    Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said the court's decision to "punt" the issue back to Parliament was not what the prime minister expected, and fell in line with the Tory position.

    The court rejected the argument that the traditional definition of marriage is rooted in history, saying times have changed.

    "Several centuries ago it would have been understood that marriage should be available only to opposite-sex couples. 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," wrote the court.

    "I feel it is a clear green light in favour of equal marriage," said Martha McCarthy, a lawyer for same-sex couples.

    Groups opposed to same-sex marriage reacted swiftly, as Gwen Landolt with Real Women and Catholic Civil Rights League member Richard Bastien called for a referendum on the issue. Landolt says the traditional definition of marriage should be enshrined in the constitution.

    Prime Minister Paul Martin said he would introduce the bill to Parliament in January.

    Martin has asked MPs to support the bill, but has also told them it will be a free vote.

    The Liberals hold a thin minority government, with 134 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons, but should have the support of most or all of the 19 New Democrat MPs and 54 Bloc Québécois MPs.

    NDP Leader Jack Layton has said his caucus will vote in favour of the bill, while Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, whose party is split on the issue, says it will be a free vote.

    If passed, Canada would join Belgium and the Netherlands in making gay marriage legal nationwide.

    Chrétien sent bill to court

    Former prime minister Jean Chrétien sent the issue to the Supreme Court following a June 2003 ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal allowing same-sex unions.

    Ottawa has proposed changing the definition of marriage to the "lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others" rather than the "lawful union of one man and one woman."

    Before taking it to Parliament, Chrétien referred the proposed bill to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to offer a non-binding opinion on three questions, including whether the government could redefine marriage, whether it supported the Charter of Rights and whether church groups had to perform the ceremonies.

    When he became prime minister one year ago, Paul Martin added a fourth question: whether limiting marriage to a man and a woman was unconstitutional.

    Along with Ontario, court rulings have now made same-sex marriage legal in British Columbia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and the Yukon.

    Written by CBC News Online staff更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
    • 这几天你又兴奋起来了。恭喜呀。
      • thanks, it happend just today, not these days. every Canadians should be proud for this great country, comparing to the south giant country.
        • At the sacrifice of the will of the majority people.
          • what are you talking about?
      • 加拿大最高院今对同性婚姻法裁决
        本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛加拿大最高院今日对同性婚姻法进行裁决,联邦司法部长高特拿预期,最高法院将支持政府建议的同性婚姻法案,自由党政府则会尽快通过该项法案。

        据加通社报道,最高院周四具划时代意义的裁决,假如高院通过法案,加拿大将会是正式承认同性婚姻的首批国家之一,同时意味男同性恋者和女同性恋者应否获准合法结婚的长期斗争终告闭幕。

        高特拿周三出席自由党党团会议后表示,预期最高院将会支持上诉和初级法院的裁决,更预期同等权利和宗教自由两项基本原则将维持不变,换言之,政府会根据此等宪章原则做事,尽快引进包括男同恋者和女同性恋者在内的公民婚姻法。

        18个月前,前总理克里靖放弃在同性婚姻问题上纠缠,拒绝就安省、卑诗省和魁省法庭指传统婚姻法违宪的裁决提出上诉,其后联邦政府草拟法例,容许男同性恋者和女同性恋者可以与伴侣在市会堂、法庭和认可他们结合的宗教机构举行婚礼。

        根据该项草拟法例,教会、犹太会堂和清真寺会获准去界定他们认为恰当的婚姻,维持人权宪章中保证宗教自由的原则。

        联邦执政自由党向加拿大最高法院提出下列3项问题:
        联邦政府有否特权界定婚姻意义?这是对任何企图阻挠新法的省级政府一项先发制人的问题。亚省省长简欣曾经表示,会运用宪章中所称的但书条款,撤销该项法例。

        宪法是否保障那些违背他们的信仰,替同性恋者主持婚礼的宗教团体。

        同性婚姻法的建议是否符合宪法?
        总理马田去年12月宣誓后,加入第4问:传统婚姻的定义,即一男一女的结合,是否亦符合宪法?提出此问,目的是让法庭维持已行之百年的婚姻定义。

        加国6省及其中1个特区的法庭已经推翻传统婚姻定义,为同性婚姻合法化铺路。更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
        • mamma mia! @_@
          • mamma mia! @_@ 哼哼,盗用俺在ROLIA上的注册专利表情符号,也不打声招呼啥的?
            • hiahiahiahia
            • Hi, tableMM, you disgust men ...so ... you can ...hiahiahia ...
    • 早晨radio听到了,还说转告你呢.加拿大还是有人情的,不错.
      • thanks
    • ( #2022766) the most sopportive post in Rolia, thank you, Rollor!
    • This is the way Canadian doing things, more liberal and more considering. Way to go Canada!
    • "Marriage represents love, commitment, and fidelity. Why shouldn’t marriage defined as their value rather than the people they exclude?"