Opposed to same-sex marriage, officials resign
From The CBC on the
web, sask.cbc.ca, Jan 4, 2005
REGINA -- Eight marriage commissioners have resigned over the same-sex marriage issue.
According to the Saskatchewan Justice Department, the commissioners opposed performing gay and lesbian marriages because they have a conscientious and religious objection to the union.
Justice Minister Frank Quennell said the law makes it unconstitutional to deny homosexual couples the right to get married.
The commissioners took the appropriate action considering their moral stand on the issue, he said.
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Saskatchewan Justice Minister Frank Quennell |
There are 321 marriage commissioners in Saskatchewan who perform civil ceremonies.
Minister Quennell there's a waiting list for people wanting to be commissioners and the jobs have already been filled.
"This hasn't caused any difficulty for the public because there are a number of people who want to be marriage commissioners and it wasn't difficult filling the vacancies," he said.
In December, the Supreme Court of Canada said the federal government can change the definition of marriage, giving gays and lesbians the legal right to marry.
In a non-binding opinion, the court reaffirmed religious freedoms under the Charter, saying religious officials opposed to same-sex marriages do not have to perform them.
However, that exemption did not apply to marriage commissioners.
Saskatchewan isn't the only province where marriage commissioners are resigning because of the law.
In British Columbia, 12 commissioners quit recently with similar objections.
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