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Same-sex marriage in Prince Edward Island

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Prince Edward Island since July 20, 2005. The Canadian province began the process of updating its laws to recognize same-sex marriage after the passage of the Civil Marriage Act in the House of Commons of Canada. Prince Edward Island had been one of only four provinces and territories, with Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, where same-sex marriage had not already been legalized by court challenges prior to the passage of the law.[1][2]

Background

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On December 10, 2004, Premier Pat Binns said that his government would wait for federal legislation to resolve the issue. It is unclear how Binns would have reacted if a provincial court had found the heterosexual definition of marriage in violation of the Charter rights of gays and lesbians.[2] A spokeswoman for a local LGBT group said in June 2005 that the province should legalize same-sex marriage "right away", noting that the island often lagged behind the rest of Canada on the issue of LGBT rights, "It's also sad to think in a province that could actually lead, on this particular issue, that they choose to stand by and wait for the federal government to make the decision. Thereby not having anyone in government make the commitment to these human rights issues."

Civil Marriage Act

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After the House of Commons of Canada passed the Civil Marriage Act in June 2005, provincial Attorney General Mildred Dover announced that the province would bring provincial legislation in line with the law, "We have said all along that we would comply if the federal government passed same-sex legislation. They have the power to define marriage. We're looking at the possibility of bringing in an omnibus bill that would say something to the effect of wherever the word spouse appears in our legislation, it includes same-sex and heterosexual marriages." The Act passed through the Canadian Senate on July 19 and received royal assent the next day on July 20, 2005, extending same-sex marriage rights across all of Canada.[3]

However, Ms. Dover announced that marriage licences would not be issued to same-sex couples until the province's laws were updated.[4] This was different from how the process had worked in other provinces; in those where courts called for same-sex marriage, and in Alberta after the Civil Marriage Act was passed. On July 22, Prince Edward Island was the only remaining province in the country where same-sex couples could not marry in practice. Dover said, "We'll do it as quickly as we can. We didn't prepare beforehand because, if we had prepared and changed all the wording, then people would say 'Why did you do that when it hadn't passed?'" Complaints immediately arose charging that the delay imposed by the province was illegal and violated the legal rights of same-sex couples. In response to these complaints, the province reversed its position. The first same-sex couple to wed on Prince Edward Island were Dr. Chris Zarow and Constance Majeau on August 20, 2005 in Vernon Bridge, as reported by the Charlottetown Guardian.[2] Reverend Barry King officiated at the ceremony. He said: "Today we celebrate the beginning of a journey for Connie and Chris. This journey is filled with joy because it's filled with love. Connie and Chris chose this path because they love each other."

Provincial legislation

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In May 2008, provincial law was finally brought in line with the federal legislation. A bill amending the Marriage Act, the Adoption Act and several other acts regarding family law was passed by the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island and given royal assent by Lieutenant Governor Barbara Oliver Hagerman. The law replaced references to "husband and wife" with the gender-neutral term "spouses", and the Adoption Act was amended to allow married same-sex couples to adopt children jointly.[5] The law took effect on 19 December 2009.[6]

Prince Edward Island legislation also recognises cohabitation agreements which can be entered into by unmarried couples living together. These written agreements, recognized by the provincial Family Law Act, outline the rights and responsibilities of common-law partners.[7] The agreement provides partners with some, but not all, of the rights and benefits of marriage. Common-law partners have the same rights to spousal support, child support and child custody as married couples. However, common-law couples are treated differently to married spouses with regard to inheritance and property rights. They have no right to inheritance if the partner were to die, and do not have the right to division of property or to stay in the common home upon separation or the death of the partner.[8]

Marriage statistics

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The 2016 Canadian census showed that there were 230 same-sex couples living in Prince Edward Island.[9]

Religious performance

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In July 2019, the synod of the Anglican Church of Canada passed a resolution known as "A Word to the Church", allowing its dioceses to choose whether to bless and perform same-sex marriages.[10] In September of the same year, Bishop Ron Cutler of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island issued a pastoral letter allowing local parishes to perform same-sex marriages.[11]

Some other religious organisations also perform same-sex marriages in their places of worship, including the United Church of Canada,[12] Quakers,[13] the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada,[14] and the Canadian Unitarian Council.[15]

Public opinion

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A 2017 CROP poll showed that 78% of respondents in Atlantic Canada supported same-sex marriage, but did not give a figure for each Atlantic province individually. Nationwide, 74% of Canadians found it "great that in Canada, two people of the same sex can get married", while 26% disagreed.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "P.E.I. proclaims same-sex marriage amendments". Charlottetown: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Same-sex marriage in the province of Prince Edward Island, Canada". Kingston: Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. 9 July 2005. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  3. ^ (Globe and Mail) Archived July 9, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "P.E.I. at a loss for words over same-sex marriage". Charlottetown: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 July 2005. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Domestic Relations Act" (PDF). Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  6. ^ TABLE OF PUBLIC ACTS
  7. ^ "Family Law Act" (PDF). www.princeedwardisland.ca. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Living Together" (PDF). Community Legal Information Association of PEI, Inc. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Families, households and marital status: Prince Edward Island". www12.statcan.gc.ca. 8 February 2017.
  10. ^ Zeidler, Maryse (13 July 2019). "Anglican Church rejects same-sex marriage approvals in vote". CBC News.
  11. ^ "A Pastoral Letter with Respect to Same Sex Marriage". Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
  12. ^ "Beliefs: Overview of Beliefs". The United Church of Canada. May 25, 2009. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  13. ^ "Submission to the Legislative Committee on Bill C-38 (CC38)" (PDF). Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers). April 10, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 22, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "Evangelical Lutherans back same-sex marriage". www.winnipegfreepress.com. 23 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
  15. ^ "Welcoming Congregation Program" (PDF). Canadian Unitarian Council. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  16. ^ I find it great that in our society, two people of the same sex can get married, CROP Panorama
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