The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A provincial proposal to let Saskatchewan's marriage commissioners opt out of marrying same-sex couples would be unconstitutional, in the view of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. The Wall government had asked for the court's opinion on exempting marriage commissioners who, for religious reasons, do not want to marry gay and lesbian couples. The province had two different proposals in mind: exempt all marriage commissioners or just those who were commissioners when same-sex marriage became legal in 2004. In either scenario, the court said in a unanimous declaration Monday, the rights of gays and lesbians would be unreasonably breached. Provincial Justice Minister Don Morgan on thanked the court for its advice. The government said it will take some time to review the decision and decide how to proceed. "This is a very thorough review by five judges, rather than the usual three," Morgan said. "They examined the issue in depth and that is reflected in the detail of their advice. I also note the respect the Court showed for all the views expressed at the hearing last May. I also want to thank all intervenors for their participation and the lawyers appointed to argue the case for their excellent work. "We will consider the Court's advice. Given the thoroughness of the analysis, I am not recommending that the government appeal."
