CLICK to read "Extended run for cruel joke - Committee seems a mockery of justice

 

 

A thaw in relations:  The Justice Committee will support same-sex marriage.

 

 

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SELECT to read "Alberta couple asks:  what defines a man  & woman?  Couple must wait for reassignment surgery to marry."

 

 

Saskatchewan's New Green Alliance:  Same-sex marriage is a question of fairness and dignity

 

 

 

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CLICK to read Beverly Smith's testimony to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in Edmonton, Alberta on April 2, 2021

 

 

 

CLICK to read B.C. call for equality - Vancouver hearing, April 1, 2021

 

 

 

Fido Fidelius?  Westboro Baptist Church suggests Canada will go to the dogs if gays marry.

 

 

 

The Canadian Christian Women's Organization For Life testified against equal marriage on Feb. 13.  CLICK to read details.

 

 

 

The regressive repressive REAL women of Canada - A sexual obsession with incest and polygamy?

 

 

 

CLICK to read Spaced Out Testimony - Catholic Women's League spewed bizarre and hateful statements  during the marriage hearing in Ottawa.

 

 

 

The United Church of Canada has urged Ottawa to end marriage discrimination

 

 

 

CUPE calls for equal marriage - CLICK to read their submission to the justice committee (MS Word doc)

 

 

 

MCC Toronto called on Parliament's committee to end marriage discrimination.  CLICK HERE to read the full submission

 

 

 

 

 

Read Michael Hendricks and Rene LeBoeuf's submission to the  marriage committee and read their account of the day

 

 

 

Justice Committee Is Not Listening

 

 

 

 

 

A stacked Deck?  Marriage Committee only a firewal for the Justice Dept.?  Click to read details

 

 

 

 

No clause for celebration - a constitutional freeze-out?  Our report on the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights marriage hearings

 

 

 


 

 

The Justice Minister's alternate realities for marriage - through the looking glass.

 

Justice Minister says that Canadian rights and freedoms "can be interpreted in many ways."

 

 

 

 

 

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Legal - Canada - Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights

Is this some kind of cruel joke? If so, it is very black humour indeed. Although this is not yet (or again) a court case, the fact that the three MPs who head the justice committee investigating whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to legally marry in Canada have all stated publicly that they are against this simple equal right, shows that we are not being judged by a jury of our peers.
David M. Beckett, The Ottawa Citizen (January 26, 2003)


May 30, 2021

Committee will support same-sex marriage

We first heard hints of a thaw in the Liberal government's opposition to same-sex marriage, in private, off-the-record comments made to us and our friends/supporters. But there was nothing to report until today. This morning, the Ottawa Citizen carried a news report with the headline "Committee backs homosexual marriages". Is it time to make peace with our (former?) foe and praise the Liberal party?

Read "A thaw in relations: Committee will support same-sex marriage"


May 6, 2003

The beginning of the end of discrimination

An internal document from the National Liberal Caucus Research Bureau became public this week. It was circulated last week to Liberal members of the Standing Committee that is looking at same-sex marriage. The paper, posted here in its entirety, reveals that the government finally understands that it must give same-sex couples access to full and equal marriage. Will the fight and delays finally stop?

Read the complete Liberal Caucus analysis paper

En francais


April 11, 2003

CLC to parliament: comply with Charter

The Canadian Labour Congress, representing 2.5 million workers, appeared today before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. The CLC spoke of justice and fairness, telling the Liberal government to comply with our Charter. Religion, they said, should not dictate secular laws. They urged the government to be socially and legally responsible by enacting same-sex marriage.

Read details of the CLC submission

Read the complete CLC submission (PDF doc)
(En Francais)


April 10, 2003

What defines a man and woman?

An Alberta couple's written testimony to the parliamentary committee highlights the Liberal government's dysfunction regarding same-sex marriage: "Last year, I received a letter from Mr. Dave Hancock, Alberta Justice Minister, stating that when my partner finishes gender reassignment surgery, we will be able to marry. This brings up the question, what defines a man or woman?"

Read the submission from Donna Kilpatrick & Kale Hobbes (PDF doc)


April 9, 2003

A question of fairness and dignity

Saskatchewan's New Green Alliance party made a submission to parliament's Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights that said same-sex marriage is a question of fairness and dignity. The NGA party says, "For Parliament to legislate an opposite sex requirement for marriage would violate the equality principles of Canada's constitution ..." Will Liberals honour the Charter?

Read the Saskatchewan's New Green Alliance submission


April 8, 2003

Tomorrow's leaders call for equality today

Senior members of Canada's government continue to delay and resist the extension of full and equal rights to gays and lesbians. Increasingly, parliament is out of step with business, unions, and the public. Future political leaders demand good governance. Read the New Democratic Youth of Canada's submission to parliament, calling for same-sex marriage and compliance with the Canadian Charter.

Read the New Democratic Youth of Canada submission


April 2, 2003

Distinguished Albertan advocate for women & families calls for equal marriage

Edmonton, Alberta - The 2nd stop for the travelling Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights was Edmonton. For the second day in a row, members of parliament heard from a Queen's Jubilee Medal recipient. Author Beverly Smith, an advocate for women and families, defended same-sex marriage in terms of equality and freedom. It's not about sex or religion, but about love and commitment.

Read Beverly Smith's testimony - April 2 Edmonton hearings



April 1, 2003

British Columbians for equal marriage

Vancouver, British Columbia - The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights began their road show today in Vancouver. The committee was formed to assist Parliament in responding to the demand for same-sex marriage. Read statements from two witnesses: a couple involved in the B.C. marriage case, and Queen's Jubilee Medal recipient James Chamberlain (Surrey Book Banning case).

Read testimony from April 1 Vancouver hearings



March 25, 2003

Fido Fidelius? Will Canada go to the dogs?
Westboro Baptist Church

The chair of the parliamentary marriage committee continues to be ineffective in maintaining the dignity of proceedings and participants. Minutes released today show gay love was again linked to illegal acts of bestiality & incest. Tolerance of gays was said to cause the destruction of civilizations. This process is called a cruel joke & stacked deck, in part, due to agendas of members like Liberal Pat O'Brien.

Read details of the Westboro Baptist Church testimony


March 18, 2003

Same-sex marriage? How about no rights at all?

The Canadian Christian Women's Organization For Life used the parliamentary hearings as a platform to go beyond same-sex marriage and argue for the removal of existing rights for the LGBT community. The testimony spoke against the use of condoms, appeared to support state mutilation of gays, and even managed to bring Saddam Hussein into this unchallenged testimony.

Read details of CCWOFL's testimony


March 12, 2003

REAL Women of Canada
Obsessed with incest and polygamy?

REAL Women of Canada demonstrated their contempt for Parliament, when they ignored warnings to stay away from hateful bigotry when speaking against same-sex marriage. According to their Feb. 12 testimony, same-sex couples are: drug users; incapable of fidelity; poor parents; and a gateway to incest and polygamy. But there are exceptions to the rule, and we can go straight! It all appeared most unreal.

Read details of REAL Women's testimony


March 5, 2003

Catholic Women's League
Spaced-out testimony

As minutes slowly trickle out from the proceedings of the marriage hearings, conducted by Parliament's Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, it becomes clear that some opponents to same-sex marriage are filled with bizarre and hateful notions. The most recent example is found in minutes, published today, from the February 11 appearance of the Catholic Women's League.

Read details of the Catholic Women's League testimony


February 26, 2003

United Church Supports Equal Marriage

In the absence of timely minutes from the Parliamentary hearings on marriage, the United Church issued a press release yesterday that outlined their Feb. 13 testimony. The United Church told the federal government's marriage committee that Canada's largest Protestant denomination supports same-sex marriage. Fear tactics used by other denominations were flatly described as "not true".

Read details of the United Church testimony


February 25, 2003

Canada's Largest Union Backs
Equal Marriage

CUPE, representing over 500,000 union members, defended our Charter right to same-sex marriage today when they presented their case before Parliament's marriage committee. This powerful ally debunked the Justice Minister's alternatives (i.e., civil unions, getting out of marriage, or maintaining the status quo) and outlined the fair and just reasons for ending marriage discrimination now.

Read complete details of CUPE's Submission (MS Word Doc)


February 19, 2003

Metroplitan Community Church of Toronto Calls For Equal Marriage

MCC Toronto, the church that married us in January 2001 (now part of the Ontario marriage challenge), presented their case for same-sex marriage to Parliament's marriage committee today. MCC Toronto's Senior Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, and lawyer Douglas Elliott, addressed the legal, spiritual and emotional sides of the debate.

"For MCCT, there is no sacrament of registered domestic partnership," Rev. Hawkes told the committee. "The only solution for the members of our Church is to have their marriages recognized as equal to the marriages performed in any other Canadian church."

Read the full submission


February 11, 2003

Montreal Couple Speaks to Committee

Michael Hendricks and Rene LeBoeuf, the Quebec couple that found victory in Quebec court last summer, were in Ottawa this week to defend their right to same-sex marriage. They presented their case to parliament's Justice Committee amidst media claims that witnesses were being mistreated by the politicians in charge. In addition to their prepared statement, read the couple's first-hand report on their experience in Ottawa.

Read Michael & Rene's submission and account of their day in Ottawa


February 7, 2003

Committee Badgers Witnesses
Liberal members prove their prejudice

"I feel that there were people who had already made up their minds and they're just here to prove their point. Their questions are not actual questions.... Their questions are ways of stating their already decided opinions. There was a badgering of the witness, not letting people finish their sentences, etc."
Gabriel Pinkstone, the Lesbian Mothers Association of Quebec (Southam News, Feb. 7, 2003)

The so-called "justice committee" formed by the Liberal party again disgraced itself yesterday when some of the bigots on the panel displayed their prejudice and mean-spirited ignorance for the rest of the country to see.

Read reports from witnesses


January 23, 2003

Justice Committee Is Discredited
Liberals tag-team with extreme-right Alliance

The Canadian Liberal government continues to attract criticism for its failure to honour charter rights for its gay and lesbian citizens, despite repeated court orders to do so and wide-spread support for equal marriage from leading opinion makers from across the country (you can find many examples on this web site). This week, Parliament's Committee on Justice and Human Rights was described as a "deck stacked against gay marriage" in a January 21 Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia) headline.

Read details about the "firewall"


December 17, 2002

No Clause for Celebration

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met at 3:38 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2002, in Ottawa to discuss how to respond to Ontario and Quebec court orders that demand the end of marriage discrimination.

It was not a promising start. The Canadian government's lack of leadership on this issue has confused some of the committee members. Others are poorly informed on legal precedents that have brought the country to this point. The government declined to rule out the most extreme measures, if it feels that tyranny of the majority is the appropriate response to charter issues involving gays and lesbians.

Read a summary of the November 27 committee meeting.


November 12, 2002

One Reasonable Choice - Equal Marriage

Justice Minister, Martin Cauchon, has released his Liberal government's paper on marriage, setting out the various options that Parliament is considering in response to the recent court judgements calling for same-sex marriage in Ontario and Quebec. We invite you to explore!

The Justice Minister's Alternate Realities For Marriage


October 4, 2002

Your Rights Under "Interpretation"

Yesterday (Oct. 3), in Canada's House of Commons, members of parliament debated the merits of the Liberal government's plans (or lack thereof). Eventually, as we knew it would, the love that Liberals dare not register, was brought out into the open once again. Read how Ottawa has been struggling to maintain marriage discrimination.

Ottawa


Written Submissions to the Committee:

Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council (April 30, 2021)

Canadian Labour Congress and En Francais (April 11, 2021)

Donna Kilpatrick and Kale Hobbes (Alberta, April 8, 2021)

Scott Campbell, Dalhousie Law School (April 7, 2021)

Read the Canadian Unitarian Council's Submission (Feb. 26, 2003)

Read complete details of CUPE's Submission (MS Word doc, Feb. 25, 2003)

Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto's submission to the committee (Feb. 19, 2003)

Submission of the Vanier Institute of the Family (Feb 18, 2021)

EGALE's submission to the committee (Feb. 4, 2003)

PRÉSENTATIONS D'EGALE (Feb. 4, 2003)

Law Commission of Canada (Jan. 30, 2003)


Minutes from the committee proceedings:

Date
Witnesses
Apr. 30, 2003 The Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council; the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, James T. Arreak; Allison Brewer and Virginia Larsson; Prof. Bryon Doherty; Chris Grosset.
Apr. 28, 2003 Nicole Hamel; the Objectif Famille; Melvin Chuck, Groupe Gai, Universite Laval; Eglise Vie Nouvelle de Cap-de-la-Madelaine; Nancy Leclerc; Hugo Cyr; Preserving Marriage for Young Canadians; Michel Emery; Micheline Montreuil; Reseau de soutien pour les droits humains des lesbiennes, gais, bisexuels, travestis et transsexuels d'Amnistie Internationale; Michael Ferri; Anthony Grumbine; Myriam Brunel Jean Rheaume; the Canadian AIDS Society; Julie Petrin; Centrale des syndicats du Quebec
Apr. 11, 2003 Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops, Lawyer Cynthia Petersen
Apr. 10, 2003 The Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario; Christian Reformed Church; the Catholic Civil Rights League; John McCash; David Brown; Thomas Baxter; The Children's Voice; Joseph Polito; David Novak; the Christian Legal Fellowship of Canada; Dennis Pilon; the Ontario Federation of Labour; the Hamilton-Wentworth Family Action Council; Gerald Chipeur; Bruce Ryder; Brenda Cossman; the Salvation Army; the Islamic Society of North America; the Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation; the Geneva Presbyterian Church
Apr. 9, 2003 The Dioceses of Sault Ste. Marie; Gary Kinsman; the Congregational Christian Church; Colleen O'Hare; Diane Ikonen; the Glad Tidings Tabernacle; Lisa Jensen; Lita McDonald; the National Association of Women and the Law; Jane Djivre; the All Nations Church; Gary Landers; Krystie & Kathy Coyne; the First Baptist Church; the Access AIDS Committee, Wanda Eurich
Apr. 8, 2003 Jay Guptill; Heather Hughes; Klaus Muller; Canadian Baptists Ministries;PFLAG; the Rothesay Baptists Church; Susan Marsden; Beatrice Salsman; the Christian Legal Fellowship of Canada; the Atlantic Canada Association of Free Will Baptist; David Jenkins; Ted Newell; Marla Kavalak; Michelle Livingston; the Centenary-Queen Square United Church; Wayne & Art Toole; the Moncton Lesbians; Grace Getty; the Christian Action Federation on New Brunswick; Carl Trickey & James Crooks; EGALE; Michele Caron
Apr. 7, 2003 The Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project; Hugh Swandel; NGALE; Lewis How; the Evangelical Pentecostal Church; the Gander Status of Women; Charles LeBlanc; the Temple Baptist Church; the Safe Harbour Metropolitan Community Church; Tamatha Trenholm; the Nova Scotia Coalition for Traditional Values; Kim Vance; OUTLAW; the Abegweit Rainbow Collective; Life and Family Issues; the Bedford Presbyterian Church; the LGBT Memorial University
Apr. 4., 2003 Manitoba
Apr. 3, 2003 The Saskatchewan New Green Alliance; Donald McLean; The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour; Ned Garstad; Jill Brewer; Rosalie Boots; Beverley Dent; The Saskatchewan Conference of the United Church of Canada; Elaine Anderson
Apr. 2, 2003 The Alberta Federation of Women United for Families; Linda & Tim Folkman, Sheree Drummond; CUPE;, Lise Gotell; Ten Morton; the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation; Chris Martyniuk; Beverley Smith; Wayne Lee; Craig & Mark Stumpf-Allen; the Open-Door Club; the OHM Corporate Health; the Catholic Women's League of Canada; OUTreach and GLASS, OutNorth
Apr. 1, 2003 Lloyd & Bob Peacock, The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Rob Hughes, REAL Women of B.C., Vancouver Association of Chinese Canadians, Dignity Canada, the Yukon Human Rights Commission, Focus on the Family, The Office of Life and Family, Katherine Maas, Douglas Allen, Cindy SIlver, Martha Dow, the Vancouver Christian Renewal Fellowship, the West Coast LEAF Association, James Chamberlain, Robin Roberts, the Queen's Empire Group, Dawn & Elizabeth Barbeau, John Redekop, the Multi Union Pride Committee, the North Shore Clergy Fellowship
Mar. 25, 2003 The Canadian Bar Association, The Cosmas and Damian Society
W. Andre Lafrance, Peter Wadeck, Jeremy Dias
Feb. 27, 2003 Interfaith Coalition; Michael Seath; Coalition Gaie et Lesbienne du Quebec
Feb. 26, 2003 McGill School of Social Work; Confederation of National Trade Unions; Canadian Unitarian Council
Feb. 25, 2003 Canadian Union of Public Employees; Jeffrey Asher
Feb. 20, 2003 Unitarian Church of Montreal and Kingston; Canadian Family Action Coalition; K. Young and P. Nathanson, academics representing personal views
Feb. 19, 2003 Chambre des notaires du Quebec; Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto; Women for Life, Faith and Family; Christopher Gray, Dept. Philosophy, Concordia University
Feb. 18, 2003 Coalition of Canadian Liberal Rabbis; Westboro Baptists Church; Seventh-Day Adventist Church; Nigel Flear; Steve Rawlinson
Feb. 13, 2003 United Church of Canada; the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; Evangelical Fellowship of Canada; Canadian Christian Women Organization
Feb. 12, 2003 Institute for the Study of Marriage, Law and Culture; Gai Ecoute inc. et la Foundation Emergence Inc; REAL Women of Canada; PFLAG Ontario
Feb. 11, 2003 St-Ignatius Martyrs Council of the Catholic Women's League; Pierre Pariseau; Foundation for Equal Families; Michael Hendricks and Rene LeBoeuf
Feb. 6, 2003 Table de concertation des lesbiennes et des gais du Quebec; Association of Christian Families; Lesbian Mothers Association of Quebec
Feb. 4, 2003 Ontario Human Rights Commission; EGALE Canada; Prof. Micheal Morin, Faculty of Law, Ottawa University
Jan. 30, 2003 the Law Commission of Canada
Jan. 29, 2003 Statistics Canada
Nov. 27, 2002 Department of Justice
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