SENATE APPROVES SECOND READING OF EQUAL MARRIAGE BILL
Final passage expected week of July 18
Yesterday, Wednesday, July 6, the equal marriage bill (C-38) passed second reading in the Senate by a vote of 43 to 12. You can see how the senators voted on the CEM website.
The bill will go to committee hearings next week and back to the Senate on July 18. The final vote is expected that week and, in the likely event that it passes, the Governor General will then sign the bill into law, to take effect immediately.
Of course, Canadians for Equal Marriage is closely monitoring the situation, talking with Senators and staffers and giving them any information they need to help them support the bill.
The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is set to begin hearings on Monday. The first witness will be Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, followed by Canadians for Equal Marriage and Egale. Hearings are expected to continue through much of next week.
Check www.equal-marriage.ca for regular updates on the latest developments.
IN THE NEWS
Spain gets the bronze
The Globe and Mail - July 2, 2005
On Friday, July 1, Spain became the third country to extend civil marriage to same-sex couples when the king signed into law the bill that had been passed the day before by the Spanish parliament.
Tens of thousands of supporters of the bill took to the streets in celebration. For more info, see http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050702.wmadri0702/BNStory/International/?query=same+sex+marriage.
Check www.equal-marriage.ca for regular updates on the latest developments.
PSAC Ontario Council Representative for
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Members
P.O. Box 325
HAGERSVILLE, ON N0A 1H0
(H) (905) 768-3756
(W) (519) 751-2584