Ottawa, June 18: Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said yesterday the federal government will not appeal an Ontario court decision legalizing same-sex marriages, sending Canada on the path to becoming only the third country to legalize gay marriages. "We will not be appealing the recent decision on the definition on marriage, rather we will be proposing legislation that will protect the rights of churches and religious organizations to sanctify marriage as they define it.”
"At the same, we will ensure that our legislation includes and legally recognize the union of same-sex couples. As soon as the legislation is drafted it will be referred to the Supreme Court. After that it will be put to a free vote in the house of commons," Chretien told reporters here.
Exactly one week ago, the Ontario court of appeal Tuesday struck down the federal definition of marriage as being solely between a man and a woman, saying it went against Canada's charter of rights and freedoms.
The court then redefined marriage as being between two persons and immediately ordered Ontario clerks to register same-sex marriages.
Since then, more than 100 couples already have been married in Toronto, Canada's largest city.
The court decision has been firmly rejected by Christian leaders. Hundreds of evangelical Christians protested against it in Toronto on Monday.
Bureau Report