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July 20, 2005 08:00 AM UTC

And They Can Smoke Weed, Too!

  • 17 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Canada today became the fourth country in the world to legalize gay marriage nationwide, joining the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. From the Associated Press:

Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize gay marriage nationwide after a landmark bill was signed into law on Wednesday.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin signed the bill, and it was read in the House of Commons and Senate, making it law. The Senate voted late Tuesday to adopt the legislation to legalize gay marriage despite fierce opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders.

The bill grants same-sex couples legal rights equal to those in traditional unions between a man and a woman, something already legal in eight of Canada’s 10 provinces and in two of its three territories.

The legislation drafted by Prime Minister Paul Martin’s minority Liberal Party government easily passed the Senate, which essentially rubber stamps any bill already passed by the House of Commons, which passed it late last month.

We haven’t been following this that closely because it’s Canada (and who cares about Canada?), but it’s interesting that this seemed to pass so easily when just to the south, gay marriage is far more likely to be banned nationwide than it is to be allowed.

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17 thoughts on “And They Can Smoke Weed, Too!”

  1. Congratulations to Canada!

    If the anti-gay groups want to fight out the terms of “marriage”, they need to do it within their congregations, not in their secular government.  No argument exists in today’s society for restricting civil unions aside from the “moral” argument, and that argument is being disputed by a growing number of churches and other religious organizations.  No secular condition stands in the way of our following Canada’s example.  This issue has less traction than the abortion issue, which at least centers around the question of the definition of “life”.  Once again religion controls government, and we need to seperate the two as we have in the past.

  2. Congrats Canada!  One more country to remove their head from their arse…more to follow hopefully.  Although i suspect good ol’ you-ess-of-ay won’t be following suit anytime soon, at least this shows the human race isn’t completely hopeless.

  3. Who cares about Canada?…. what a short sighted, ignorant comment.
    Take note and try to keep up with the social progress, balanced budget, trade surplus, safe communities….oh I could go on and on.
    There are many lessons to be learned between these two countries – if only YOU could see beyond your own borders, I bet the world would benefit from it… or be bombed I suppose.  Shit, Canada DOES have quite a bit of oil!  Yikes , take cover, eh !

  5. Look at Alva, you’ve angered the Canadians!  Soon they may rain Molson beer and hockey pucks on Colorado, wait, that has already happened!

  6. This just in… The Canadian government has announced that Former US Congressman Tom Tancredo has been appointed as the Director of Canada’s Immigration Services.

    “This is truly an honor to be included in a country that understands the importance of security and border protection,” said Tancredo.

    The appointment comes after an increased outcry of illegal, gay Americans sneaking across the vast US-Canadian border.

    “It’s important for us as Canadians to understand that these people want to come to our great country for its marital opportunities,” said Prime Minister Martin. “Our government will continue to look at marriage visas and access to marriage licenses for these illegals.”

    Canada has witnessed a new trend of increased population after a steady decline of its actors and hockey players moving to the US.

    In other news, the Toronto Maple Leafs unveiled their new logo dropping the heavy red and choosing a rainbow design on the leaf.

  10. Good for Canada. Why was it so easy to pass the legislation in Canda, while it’s so difficult in the States?

    Does the parliamentary system of government, an elected dictatorship, make it easier to pass legislation favored by the government in power? If so, what makes Prime Minister Martin so willing to back the legislation while our president , governor and even Democratic Sen. Salazar are not?

    Is there something that makes it less profitable for demagogues to oppose civil rights for gays in Canada than in the U.S.?

  11. America is too prosperous to allow gay marriages:
    1. Hotels are full and don’t have the time or space for gay celebrants.
    2. Airlines don’t have seats for gay couples’ wedding guests.
    3. Rental car agencies don’t have cars for people travelling to gay weddings.
    4. Churches are too well endowed to accept donations from grateful gay couples.
    5. Home builders will only sell their big houses to married men and women.
    6. Divorce attorneys and marriage counselors only work with hetrosexual couples.
    7. If they allow it in Canada, we sure won’t allow it here.
    8. If good Christians approved gay marriages, who would they be able hate and show they’re really not Christians?
    9. If gays were allowed to marry, they would be more likely to become, gasp! REPUBLICANS.
    10. Jewlery manufacturers and retailers have so much business that they don’t have time to sell their junk to gay couples.

    Two serious questions: Has anyone written about the economic benefits of gay marriage?

    What is it about the Canadian form of government that makes it relatively easy for politicians to back gay marriages?

  12. This study shows how California would benefit from gay marriages.

    A University of California study shows that if the state allowed same-sex couples to marry, there would be an estimated gain of $22 million to $25 million in state revenues and savings.
    The report, done by The Williams Project at the UCLA Law School and in collaboration with the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies, shows that there would be a rise in sales tax revenues from increased tourism, increased spending for same-sex weddings by residents and a decrease in state income taxes. The study also shows that the increase in tourism and same-sex wedding ceremonies could generate millions of dollars for California businesses.
    The California Assembly is currently debating AB 1967, a bill introduced by openly gay Assemblyman Mark Leno, that would allow for legally binding same-sex marriages.
    “This study makes it clear that equal protection is not only the right thing to do morally, but also fiscally,” said Geoffrey Kors, executive director of Equality California, which is a sponsor of AB 1967. “By passing this bill, the Legislature could avoid onerous proposed budget cuts in education and health programs.”
    The study argues the main savings for California will come from decreasing the number of individuals eligible for means-tested state benefit programs, like Medi-Cal and CalWorks. Extending marriage to same-sex couples does this because the income of a person’s spouse must be included when determining eligibility for state benefit programs.A University of California study shows that if the state allowed same-sex couples to marry, there would be an estimated gain of $22 million to $25 million in state revenues and savings.
    The report, done by The Williams Project at the UCLA Law School and in collaboration with the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies, shows that there would be a rise in sales tax revenues from increased tourism, increased spending for same-sex weddings by residents and a decrease in state income taxes. The study also shows that the increase in tourism and same-sex wedding ceremonies could generate millions of dollars for California businesses.
    The California Assembly is currently debating AB 1967, a bill introduced by openly gay Assemblyman Mark Leno, that would allow for legally binding same-sex marriages.
    “This study makes it clear that equal protection is not only the right thing to do morally, but also fiscally,” said Geoffrey Kors, executive director of Equality California, which is a sponsor of AB 1967. “By passing this bill, the Legislature could avoid onerous proposed budget cuts in education and health programs.”
    The study argues the main savings for California will come from decreasing the number of individuals eligible for means-tested state benefit programs, like Medi-Cal and CalWorks. Extending marriage to same-sex couples does this because the income of a person’s spouse must be included when determining eligibility for state benefit programs.

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