Bill C-38: An Act respecting certain aspects of legal capacity for marriage for civil purposes, first reading
February 1, 2005
This enactment extends the legal capacity for marriage for civil purposes to same-sex couples in order to reflect values of tolerance, respect and equality, consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It also makes consequential...  Link

Last-ditch Attempt to Stop Marriage Equality
January 19, 2005
Opponents of equality for lesbian and gay people are making a desperate last-ditch attempt to stop equality. When Parliament resumes in a few weeks, they know they face their last chance to roll back the clock on equal marriage. They know the vote in...  Full Text

Equal Marriage Court Ruling Under Attack—Please Help
December 15, 2004
Last Thursday, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that all lesbian and gay Canadians should have the right to marry. The opponents to equal marriage were clearly ready for this response and have been inundating MP offices on Parliament Hill and in...  Full Text

Come Clean on Notwithstanding Clause, Mr. Harper
December 14, 2004
Today Stephen Harper announced the Conservative Party’s proposal to amend the government’s proposed equal marriage legislation. The amendments would make marriage a heterosexual-only institution and would relegate lesbian and gay...  Full Text

Calls from Some MPs to Use Notwithstanding Clause Out of Step with Canadian Values
December 9, 2004
The Supreme Court ruled today that the government’s proposed equal marriage legislation is within Parliament’s exclusive jurisdiction and consistent with the Charter. It also ruled that the Charter protects religious officials from...  Full Text

Act Now! Anti-Equal Marriage Bill Update!
November 25, 2004
Last week we told you that Parliament may soon vote on legislation to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples. Private Members’ Bill C-268, introduced by Rob Moore, (Con) for Fundy, NB, would define marriage as “the lawful union...  Full Text | In French

Act Now! Parliament to Vote on UnEqual Marriage!
November 19, 2004
Next Friday, November 26, Parliament will be asked to vote on a Private Members Bill (Bill C-268) which would define marriage as “the lawful union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.” We need your help. Please...  Full Text | In French

Possible Flip-Flop on Equal Marriage
January 12, 2004
Canadians for Equal Marriage (www.equal-marriage.ca) needs you (and all your family and friends) to e-mail Paul Martin and Justice Minister Cotler right away.  Full Text

Don’t Leave Us Out in the Cold
January 9, 2004
Today, Canadians for Equal Marriage, a multi-partisan, broad-based pan-Canadian campaign to support the right of same-sex couples to equal access to civil marriage, will stage a media event following the end of the Cabinet meeting.  Full Text | In French

Don’t Leave Us Out in the Cold
January 9, 2004
Community groups expressed vehement opposition to rumours that the government may ask the Supreme Court if it can deny access to marriage itself, and instead implement a civil union registry.  Full Text | In French

Message to the New Government: Don’t Try to Deny Same-sex Couples Access to Marriage
December 14, 2003
Shortly after being sworn in as Justice Minister, Irwin Cotler is reportedly open to asking the Court whether it’s acceptable to provide access to civil unions instead of marriage itself.  Full Text | In French

Act Now! Equal Marriage Threatened
December 8, 2003
Equal marriage needs your help today. Paul Martin is on record as saying that he supports the government’s decision not to appeal the historic court decisions allowing same-sex couples to marry. The CBC reported Thursday however that Paul...  Full Text | In French

Parliament Rejects Alliance Anti-Gay Marriage Bill
October 26, 2003
On Friday, October 24, Parliament finalized its rejection of Alliance MP Grant Hill’s private members’ bill to exclude same-sex couples from legal marriage.  Full Text | In French

Same-Sex Issue Coming Back to Parliament
October 4, 2003
In the very first days of the current session of Parliament, the Canadian Alliance introduced a motion calling upon Parliament to use the notwithstanding clause to exclude same-sex couples from marriage.  Full Text

Update on Alliance motion against Equal Marriage and Bill C-250 - Hate Propaganda
September 17, 2003
Short Report from Gilles Marchildon, Executive Director, EGALE Canada  Full Text | In French

Urgent Action Needed on Alliance Vote
September 15, 2003
We have just received the wording of a motion presented today in the House of Commons by the Canadian Alliance. The Alliance motion calls on Parliament to “take all necessary steps” to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples...  Full Text | In French

Meet Your MP
September 8, 2003
Urgent action alert. EGALE is requesting everyone who is able, to meet with their MP on Friday September 12. Information and tips on conducting a successful meeting.  Full Text | In French

Meet Your MP on Friday, September 12!!
September 7, 2003
Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper stated yesterday that his party will introduce a motion that calls on Parliament to “take all necessary steps” to deny same-sex couples access to civil marriage. He said he wants Parliament...  Full Text

Same-Sex Marriage: Alliance Motion = Notwithstanding Clause
September 5, 2003
Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper stated yesterday that his party will introduce a motion that calls on Parliament to “take all necessary steps” to deny same-sex couples access to civil marriage. He said he wants Parliament to deal...  Full Text | In French

Equal Marriage for Same-Sex Couples: The Alliance Motion
September 8, 2003
Fact sheet explaining the Canadian Alliance proposed motion against equal marriage.  Full Text | In French

Alliance to Force September 17 Vote on Entrenching Heterosexual Definition of Marriage
August 26, 2003
Well, we made it through last week‘s Liberal caucus meeting in North Bay without any change in course on the fed‘s equal marriage legislation. (yeah!) Much positive discussion took place among MPs, and equal marriage is winning over the hearts  Full Text

Canadian Alliance to force Sept 17 vote on entrenching heterosexual definition of marriage
August 23, 2003
Opposing messages still greatly outnumber supportive ones. We need your help now.  Full Text | In French

Time For Parliament to Do Its Job
August 22, 2003
Egale Canada today called upon parliamentarians to do their job, specifically asking that the Standing Committee on Justice table its report on same-sex marriage and that the Government begin debate of that report in September.  Full Text

Time to E-Mail MPs!
August 17, 2003
As you are probably aware, MPs are being flooded with anti-gay messages, urging them to defeat the same-sex marriage legislation. Last week we asked you to Phone or Fax your MP. Please don’t forget to do that! Go to...  Full Text

Liberal MPs Need to Hear from you Before August 19 Caucus Meeting
August 11, 2003
As you likely know, the equal marriage legislation proposed by the feds is in serious jeopardy. Across the country, MPs are being inundated with phone calls, letters and e-mails opposing equal marriage. Few messages of support for the legislation are...  Full Text | In French

Egale Welcomes Equal Marriage Bill, Which Affirms Basic Principles of Equality and Respect
July 17, 2003
Egale Canada, the national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered rights organization, welcomed today the release of a federal Bill to provide same-sex couples with the equal right to marry across Canada.  Full Text | In French

Egale Responds to Government Announcement on Same-Sex Marriage
June 17, 2003
Today, Tuesday, June 17, 2003, following a Cabinet retreat, the Liberal government will be announcing the government’s response to last week’s Ontario Court of Appeal ruling on same-sex marriage.  Full Text | In French

Ontario Court of Appeal to Deliver Same-Sex Marriage Judgment Tomorrow
June 9, 2003
Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 10, 2003, the Ontario Court of Appeal will be issuing its judgment on the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry – the same day that the House of Commons Committee on Justice and Human Rights will be...  Full Text | In French

Party Leaders Support Equal Marriage
May 27, 2003
At an Egale Press Conference today, Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe, MP and NDP leader Jack Layton expressed their unequivocal support for providing equal marriage rights to same-sex couples. Statements of support (attached) were...  Full Text | In French

Statement in Support of Equal Marriage—Copps, Martin
May 27, 2003
Statement from the Hon. Sheila Copps, PC, MP Minister of Canadian Heritage:  Full Text | In French

Party Leaders Join Together to Support Equal Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
May 26, 2003
In a historic demonstration of commitment to equality, party leaders and leadership candidates from four of the five federal parties (including all 3 Liberal leadership candidates) will express their support for providing same-sex couples with equal...  Full Text

Gay Community Braces for Impact as Same-Sex Marriage Committee Begins Cross-Country Hearings
April 2, 2003
Across Canada, lesbians, gays and bisexuals braced for the worst today as the federal Justice and Human Rights Committee prepares to hold the first of 10 cross-country hearings on same-sex marriage, beginning tomorrow in Vancouver, continuing in...  Full Text | In French

Justice Committee to Travel Across Canada
March 1, 2003
A Parliamentary Justice Committee is about to travel across Canada to hear public opinion on same-sex marriage, and we need your help!  Full Text | In French

Egale Submissions to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
February 4, 2003
February 4, 2003  Full Text | In French

Egale to Appear Tomorrow Before Same-Sex Marriage Committee
February 3, 2003
Egale Canada, will appear tomorrow before the House of Commons Justice and Human Rights Committee.  Full Text | In French

Audiences publiques au sujet du mariage égal pour les couples de même sexe débuteront demain
January 27, 2003
Demain, le Comité de la Justice et des Droits de la personne de la Chambre des communes commencera à tenir des audiences publiques pour considérer la possibilité d’accorder aux couples de...  In French

Egale Congratulates Sheila Copps on Support for Same-Sex Marriage; Asks: Where is Paul Martin?
January 15, 2003
Egale Canada congratulated Heritage Minister Sheila Copps today for her progressive stance on same-sex marriage. In announcing her candidacy for the Liberal leadership today, Minister Copps described equal marriage rights for same-sex couples as...  Full Text

Civil Union is No Solution
November 8, 2002
Egale Canada responded today to Justice Minister Martin Cauchon’s release of a discussion paper outlining four options for responding to court rulings in favour of same-sex marriage. Egale expressed alarm at the suggestion that introducing...  Full Text

Egale To Comment On Same Sex Marriage Discussion Paper Released By Justice Minister Cauchon
November 8, 2002
Egale To Comment On Same Sex Marriage Discussion Paper Released By Justice Minister Cauchon  Full Text

Egale Demands Clear Answer from Justice Minister
October 1, 2002
Egale Canada released today a letter from Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, describing upcoming Parliamentary hearings on same-sex marriage. The letter was received by Lloyd Thornhill and Bob Peacock, a same-sex couple in a relationship of 35 years who...  Full Text

Egale Responds to Cabinet Decision On Same-Sex Marriage
August 7, 2002
Egale Canada responded to the Cabinet decision today to refer the question of same-sex marriage to the Justice Committee.  Full Text