TORONTO, January 18, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Ontario boasts of having performed over 1,000 same-sex “marriages” since the Ontario Court of Appeals struck down the law defining marriage as the union of a man and woman in June 2003. “We’ve probably had more experience with civil ceremonies of same-sex couples than maybe any other jurisdiction in the world,” Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant boasted to the Canadian Press Thursday. In an attempt to reassure Canadians, Bryant said, “It’s important for Canadians to know that at least in one province, there has (sic) not been any real problems that have developed.” Problems, in this case, he defines as a lack of formal opposition from marriage commissioners refusing to perform the ceremonies, or from same-sex couples being refused their wish to be “married.” Meanwhile, eight Saskatchewan marriage commissioners have resigned because of new laws requiring them to “marry” same-sex couples, while at least 11 in Manitoba have followed suit after their government made the same demand. Several Newfoundland mayors said they would rather give up the privilege of performing marriages than be forced to “marry” homosexuals. Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said his Liberal government plans to introduce legislation to legalize same-sex “marriage” for the rest of Canada by next month, with a new law in place by summer. tv