Same-sex marriage in the Northwest Territories
Part of the LGBT rights series |
LGBT portal |
Legal proceedings
In December 2004, Justice Minister
On May 20, 2005, a
On July 6, Ruby Trudel, alone, testified before the Supreme Court. She apologised to the court for her lack of knowledge of court procedures, and said that she was not homophobic, "While we do not support, encourage or endorse their lifestyle, we hold nothing against them personally." She said that those who promote the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage had been "rendered voiceless at the federal level." Actually, the debates in the Canadian Senate were in full swing at that time. She expressed concern over the possibility of persecution of Christian clergy if same-sex marriage were to become legalised, "If the application before this court were to succeed, there is every reason to believe that repercussions against people of conscience and religion....will soon begin to occur here also." She asked that the court not impose costs on them, "Costs incurred to this point already exceed our ability to pay."[1]
A ruling never came from the Supreme Court, and royal assent was granted to the Civil Marriage Act on July 20, 2005, legalising same-sex marriage nationwide in Canada. Perrino and Snow were awarded $5,000 in legal fees to cover court costs. On October 17, 2005, Supreme Court Justice Virginia Schuler ordered the federal government, and therefore Canadian taxpayers, to reimburse the plaintiffs for costs they incurred during their legal challenge.[1] Perrino and Snow married following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the territory.[4]
Territorial legislation
In June 2002, the
On March 7, 2017, the Legislative Assembly approved the Marriage Act.[a] The Act defines marriage as "a voluntary union of two persons to the exclusion of all others", and uses gender-neutral language when referring to spouses.[9] It received royal assent by acting Commissioner Gerald Kisoun on March 10, and went into effect on June 1, 2017.[10]
Marriage statistics
The 2016 Canadian census showed that there were 75 same-sex couples living in the Northwest Territories.[11]
Religious performance
In July 2019, the synod of the Anglican Church of Canada narrowly rejected a motion to authorise same-sex marriage and allow clergy in the church to officiate at such marriages. Instead, the church synod passed a resolution known as "A Word to the Church", allowing its dioceses to choose whether to perform same-sex marriages.[12] Clergy of the Diocese of The Arctic, including Bishop David Parsons, have been vocally opposed to the solemnisation of same-sex marriages within the church.[13] Following the passage of the resolution, several dioceses, including those of Ottawa and Rupert's Land, announced they would permit their clergy to solemnise same-sex marriages in accordance with the new resolution passed by the church synod. The Diocese of The Arctic chose to distance itself from these dioceses, but, responding to concerns that it might be leaving the Anglican Church of Canada, it released a statement, "The Diocese of the Arctic remains a diocese within the Anglican Church of Canada, but must distance itself from those who violate the marriage canon. The implication of this is a state of 'impaired communion'."[14]
See also
Notes
- ^ In some of the Northwest Territories' official languages:[7]
- Cree: Wîkihtowin Tôtamowin
- Dogrib (Tłı̨chǫ): Ełetsʼìhchìı Nàowo
- French: Loi sur le mariage
- Gwichʼin: Nihkhàgadhidii geenjit dàgwìdįįʼee
- Inuinnaqtun: Katitiviliqinikkut Maligaq
- Inuktitut: ᑲᑎᑎᓯᒪᔪᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ,[8]Katitisimajulirinirmut Piqujaq
- North Slavey: Ełetsʼíchu ʔeʔá
References
- ^ a b c "Same-sex marriage in Northwest Territories". Kingston: Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. 25 May 2005. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ Wockner, Rex (2 July 2005). "Northwest Territories Gays Sue For Marriage". San Francisco Bay Times. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ Same-sex marriage case delayed
- ^ "Gay couple plans marriage in Yellowknife". Nunatsiaq News. July 29, 2005.
- ^ "Act to Amend the Adoption Act and Family Law Act". Canadian Parliamentary Review. June 11, 2002. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ^ "MODERNIZATION OF BENEFITS AND OBLIGATIONS ACT" (PDF). Northwest Territories Department of Justice. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ^ Mitchell-Firth, Eleanor; Andre, Lisa; Firth, William; Andre, Alestine; Riepl, Mark (2003). Gwich'in Language Dictionary (4th Edition) (PDF). Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute.
- ^ "ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᔪᑦ". gov.nu.ca (in Inuktitut). Archived from the original on 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Bill 13" (PDF). justice.gov.nt.ca.
- ^ "Marriage Act" (PDF). justice.gov.nt.ca.
- ^ "Families, households and marital status: Northwest Territories". www12.statcan.gc.ca. 8 February 2017.
- ^ Zeidler, Maryse (13 July 2019). "Anglican Church rejects same-sex marriage approvals in vote". CBC News.
- ^ "At national gathering, Arctic Anglicans say no to same-sex marriage". Nunatsiaq News. 22 July 2019.
- ^ Gardner, Matt (9 September 2019). "What the Anglican Church of Canada's same-sex marriage vote means for its future". Episcopal News Service.
External links
- "Same-sex marriage in the Northwest Territories, Canada". Religious Tolerance. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021.