MARRIAGE - Status from Focus on the Family - On June 10, 2003, the long-standing definition of marriage in Canada was overthrown by an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling. The judges found that:

1. the existing common law definition of marriage [is] invalid to the extent that it refers to "one man and one woman;"
2. the common law definition of marriage [is reformulated] as "the voluntary union for life of two persons to the exclusion of all others."

The Prime Minister announced June 17 that the government would not appeal the Ontario decision, and would instead prepare a bill on the issue. The bill on same-sex unions has been sent to the Supreme Court for approval (a reference). MPs will be allowed a free vote on the legislation. More than 100 MPs have already announced their intention to vote against the legislation.

On July 7th, Focus on the Family and a coalition of partners announced that we are seeking leave to appeal the Ontario court decision. We have not received word on whether the appeal will be heard. Another group, led by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, is making a similar appeal.

The Justice Committee charged with investigating the issue narrowly voted to express their approval of the Ontario decision on June 12th. They may still issue a report, but it is now irrelevant.

On September 16, a symbolic motion in Parliament sought to affirm marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This motion was defeated.

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