OTTAWA, October 8, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – At the Supreme Court of Canada, presentations by lawyers arguing for and against allowing same-sex “marriage” will begin wrapping up today. Both Quebec and Alberta oppose the move.
Lawyer for Alberta, Robert Leurer, argued that the constitution defines marriage as between a man and woman, therefore any legislation that seeks to change the definition of marriage would necessitate a change to the constitution itself.
According to a Canadian Press account, newly appointed Justice Rosalie Abella countered Leurer: “You don’t look at 1867 as the end of the story”. Leurer maintained that the courts should not “obliterate in one fell swoop the wisdom accumulated since time immemorial.” Quebec opposes the move because it argues that marriage is a provincial jurisdiction. Quebec argues that, because the job of solemnizing marriages—the issuing of marriage licenses, the ceremony, and the registration, is within the purview of the province, the decision to determine who can marry whom should also be left to the individual provinces. A decision is not expected until the new year. Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Quebec Opposes Federal Same-Sex “Marriage” Bill https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/sep/04092104.html Canadian Supreme Court Judges Question Being Used to Bypass Parliament on Gay ‘Marriage’ https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/oct/04100606.html Canada Supreme Court Launches Same-Sex Marriage Hearings https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/oct/04100605.html tv