Toronto—Today Justice Heather Robertson of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia ordered that the definition of marriage in Nova Scotia include same-sex couples. Neither the province of Nova Scotia nor the federal government opposed the order.
“Justice Robertson is the 18th judge in a row to rule that excluding same-sex couples from civil marriage is discriminatory and violates the Charter,” said Laurie Arron, Director of Advocacy of Egale. “With Nova Scotia, 82% of Canadians now live in jurisdictions with equal marriage. Gay and lesbian people in the remaining jurisdictions are feeling increasingly left behind. We’ve been contacted by same-sex couples in 4 of the remaining jurisdictions who want to launch challenges of their own.”
“Egale greatly appreciates the hard work of the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project, lawyer Sean Foreman, and of course the three couples,” added Mr. Arron. “They have brought full marriage equality to Nova Scotia. Egale also appreciates the cooperation of the federal government and the province in facilitating this advance in equality.”
“We look forward to the day when all Canadians have the equal right to marry, when Parliament finally passes legislation to make that a reality,” said Cicely McWilliam of Canadians for Equal Marriage.
A survey released July 1 by the Centre for Research and Information on Canada and Environics found that the number of Canadians agreeing that gays and lesbians should be allowed to get married has increased. Currently, 57% agree, the highest level since CRIC first asked the question two years ago. The number disagreeing currently stands at 38%. (see New Canada survey at http://www.cric.ca/en_html/index.html)
For more info:
Laurie Arron, Egale Canada, 416-928-1238 (o), 416-839-7178 (c)
Cicely McWilliam, Canadians for Equal Marriage, 416-928-1238
(see also press release below from Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project)
Halifax—Today Justice M. Heather Robertson of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia ordered that the common law definition of marriage in Nova Scotia is now “the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others,” finally giving Nova Scotian same-sex couples the same right to marry as recognized in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, the Yukon, and most recently Manitoba.
Same-sex couples can now solemnize their marriages in Nova Scotia rather than traveling to other parts of Canada. The Order further clarifies that same sex marriages solemnized in other provinces are legal and recognized marriages in Nova Scotia.
The Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project (NSRAP: www.nsrap.ca), a political action group working toward equality for all Nova Scotians, has supported the case throughout.
“This is a great day for Nova Scotia. Slowly but surely the civil institution of marriage is being opened to same-sex couples no matter what province they are living in,” said Bob Fougere, Coordinator of NSRAP.
“Nova Scotia was a leader in Canada in 2001 with the introduction of Registered Domestic Partnerships and it is good to see Nova Scotia take its place among the progressive provinces and territories of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, and the Yukon in recognizing the constitutional right of same-sex couples to get married here at home.”
“We are celebrating our 20th anniversary together this year,” said Ron and Bryan Garnette-Doucette, “and we are so thrilled and excited that finally, at this milestone in our loving relationship, we now have the right to get married here in our home Province, with our friends and families at our side.”
NSRAP would like to take the opportunity to thank the following:
NSRAP urges the remaining provinces and territories across Canada to take action, as recognized by the courts and many others, to accept the change in the common law to include same-sex marriage and fulfill the Canadian promise of equality by issuing licenses to those same-sex couples who also wish to get married, without requiring further litigation and continued waste of public and private resources.
For further information contact:
Sean Foreman
Barrister & Solicitor
Merrick Holm
(902) 482-7020 (office)
Kevin A. Kindred
Barrister & Solicitor
(902) 491-4466 (office)
Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project
Bob Fougere
(902) 832-9100 (Tel)
For information on NSRAP check our website http://www.nsrap.ca
Egale Canada ©2007