Ottawa, Canada, Dec 8, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The Supreme Court of Canada issued its judgment this morning on same-sex marriage, stating that the federal government has the right to change the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
The court emphasized that it was issuing an opinion and not a ruling, and that the judgment on the constitutionality of the federal bill does not make same-sex marriage law.
The court also stated that religious groups and officials cannot be forced to perform same-sex marriage if it is against their beliefs.
The judgment also recognized that while the definition of marriage is federal jurisdiction, the solemnization and registration of marriage is provincial, and individual provinces can decide not to register same-sex marriage by invoking the notwithstanding clause