http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=8916&sd=06/10/03
There may be a legally married same-sex couple in Canada even as I type this. This is HUGE. Congratulations Canada, thank you for leading the way!
<snip> As of Tuesday morning, the federal government was putting up no immediate roadblock. “We’re examining the ruling,” said Mike Murphy, a spokesman for justice minister Martin Cauchon. “We have to take some time to review it.”
The federal government has 30 days to appeal the ruling to Canada’s supreme court. If it doesn’t, same-sex marriage could become legal in all of the country’s 10 provinces. <snip>
Ok, am I reading that wrong or is it contradictory? They’re examining it and need time to review, but they only have 30 days so theoretically they can appeal it on day 29 and put the entire issue back on the judicial carousel?
If so, that blows, let it go already.
If not, wooo hoooo!
Oh, to be a wedding planner in Toronto right now!!!
Looks like the boi and I might actually have a reason to go to Toronto. Whodathunkit?
To review: 
Boo-yeah!
That is some very good news. I’m hoping there will be no appeal to the ruling. We shall see for sure 30 days from now.
Can anyone say mass immigration?
Boy, wouldnt you like to see the faces on the border guards if that goes through? “What is your business in Canada?” “We are here to get married!” Be a bigger industry than Vegas!
Yay for Canada ! I would be proud to be a Canadian today. 
I am!
You know, most of the time I slink around thinking about how much is wrong with Canadialand, and then something like this comes along. Hopefully, the Feds will just hope no one notices that they’re not appealing it. From my understanding, it was ruled that not having same-sex marriage is actually unconstituational. What a step forward!
gloating
And to think the States still won’t ratify the ERA… or even the UN declaration of the rights of the child
gloating
I’m pretty sure the reference to 30 days is erroneous - a party has 60 days to file an application for leave to appeal to the SCC, and the month of July doesn’t count (summer holidays), so that takes it to what - early in September?
Also, the SCC’s Act and/or Rules allow an appellant to apply for a stay of the decision below.
So stay tuned to see what the feds decide to do.
That’s wonderful. I wish we were so progressive in the US. It’s really sad how backwards we still are here in so many ways.
Back Bacon
Beer
Hockey
Same Sex Marriages
It’s a natural progression of things.
To hear the Globe and Mail tell it, the force of the ruling was to make same-sex marriage legal, now in Ontario.
This is huge news! Ontario becomes the first jurisdiction in North America to get SSM!
YEAH! WOOOOO! Ring out the bells! giant dance of joy!
I think I’m going to ask the moderator to make the title of this thread more explicit. This is enormous news!
To clarify: the supreme court has struck down laws making it illegal in Quebec and BC, and given the Gvt a certain amount of time to change their laws - until they do, it won’t be technically ‘legal’. In Ontario they struck the laws down but didn’t give the gvt any time to change their tune, so it’s effective immediately. Also important to note that the decision explicitly said that religious institutions are still allowed to bar homosexuals from marrying - ie these new rules will not compel the Roman Catholic church, for example, to marry gays if they don’t want to.
We mustn’t forget about Alberta, the Texas of Canada. The asshat premier Ralph Klein refuses to accept this ruling and plans to use the “Notwithstanding Clause,” the oh-so-Canadian feature that allows governments to say “Ya, but …” to supreme court rulings that relate to Charter rights. Apparently Albertans aren’t ready to accept SSM. I’m quite certain that some Albertans are ready !
But let’s shout it to the heavens !! HOORAY !! Also agree that this is neither mundane nor pointless !
Now y’all have a good reason to risk SARS, BSE, West Nile, and come up north !
Yes it is, but before I can do that, Otto has to concur, as the OP of the thread. I believe you suggested “Gay marriage is now legal in Ontario” in your e-mail. Is that OK with you as a thread title, Otto?
Leading the way, eh? Feh, the Canadians always get the glory. OK kids, all together now: which country was the first in the world to have fully legalised gay marriages?
Netherlands and Belgium both legislated SSM.
Canada has had it by judicial fiat. I like the result, I dislike the way it happened.
Maybe change it to “same-sex wedding bells in Canada”?
And it’s official, the first same-sex couple was married Tuesday.
Title changed!
Congratulations, Canada! What a wonderful step forward.
My only question is: would SSMs in Canada be considered legal in countries that don’t recognize SSM due to international treaty?
Oh congrats, people! Especially gay Dopers from Canada!