Opting out of marrying same-sex couples unconstitutional, Sask. court rules

[Swede]

Some good news from Canada.

"This is a very important decision," Donna Smith, a member of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour's Solidarity and Pride Committee, said in a news release. "An important precedent has now been set that will help to deter discrimination against same-sex couples that wish to marry."


The federation's pride committee was granted intervener status in the matter.


The court in its decision released Monday, said both of the proposed laws — allowing an exemption for all marriage commissioners or just for those who were commissioners at the time gay marriage was legalized in Saskatchewan in 2004 — would be unconstitutional. If enacted, such a law would violate the equality rights of gay and lesbian individuals and would not be a reasonable and justifiable breach of those rights, the court said.



Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/life/Opting+marrying+same+couples+unconstitutional+Sask+court+rules/4086046/story.html#ixzz1AewkdF6v

[JDPriestly]

1. I assume that marriage commissioners are civil authorities in Canada,

not religious ones. Am I correct?

[Swede]

2. Civil authorities,yes.