Civil union

A civil union is one of several terms for a civil status similar to marriage, typically created for the purposes of allowing same-sex couples access to the benefits enjoyed by married opposite-sex couples (see also same-sex marriage); it can also be used by opposite-sex couples who do not prefer to enter into the legal institution of marriage but who would rather be in a union more similar to a common-law marriage.

Canada

Although marriage is defined by federal law in Canada, it and other vital statistics are administered by the provinces. The M. v. H. decision of the Supreme Court of Canada extended common-law marriage to include same-sex couples. As of July 2005, marriage is defined as a union of two persons irrespective of gender. Therefore civil unions are no longer an issue.

Related Topics:
Canada - M. v. H. - Supreme Court of Canada - Common-law marriage

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External link:

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Canadian Department of Justice: Marriage and Legal Recognition of Same-sex Unions, A Discussion Paper (November 2002)

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Alberta

In response to the passage of the Civil Marriage Act in the Canadian House of Commons, the Albertan government actively considered replacing civil marriage with civil union for both opposite-sex and same-sex couples as probably the only legal means of preventing same-sex "marriages" from taking place in Alberta. The ruling Alberta Progressive Conservatives subsequently acknowledged that they would be unable to prevent them.

Related Topics:
Civil Marriage Act - Canadian House of Commons - Alberta Progressive Conservatives

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Quebec

Pursuant to a range of activism and to the M. v. H. decision, the province of Quebec's legislature voted unanimously to create a status of civil union, available to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples and largely having the same rights as marriage, by modifying the Civil Code of Quebec. The law was enacted on June 24, 2002. See: Civil Code of Quebec (Book 2: 'The Family', Title One.1, arts. 521.1 to 521.19).

Related Topics:
Civil Code of Quebec - June 24 - 2002

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Nova Scotia

On June 4, 2001, Nova Scotia became the first province in Canada to register same-sex relationships. The registration, which carries a fee of $15 Canadian dollars, is for a "domestic partnership" at the Office of Vital Statistics. However, unlike other "domestic partnerships" at the civic level, this has a force similar to that of marriage because it is registered with the same authority that registers marriages, and because it gives the couple access to some 20 of the most important matrimonial laws.

Related Topics:
June 4 - 2001

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External link:

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Information from Religious Tolerance.org (scroll down)

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