Green light for gay marriages bill
December 10, 2004 Edition 1
Ottawa: Canada's Supreme Court has ruled that government plans to allow same-sex marriage are constitutional, in a landmark ruling in the long battle for equal rights for gays and lesbians.
The court ruled, however, that religious officials could not be compelled to marry same-sex couples.
The government had asked the court to examine its bill before it was put before parliament.
While the government was awaiting the judgment before changing federal law on same-sex marriage, courts in six provinces and one territory ruled that same-sex marriage was legal.
