I don't understand what he means by the following excerpt from the speech. Why would civil unions not be equal as the rest of Canadians? Why can't civil unions grant the same rights as marriage?
The reason I'm asking is because here in the states I don't believe the majority will accept changing the traditional definition of marriage as being "a union between a man and a woman as husband and wife". However civil unions may have a chance of being accepted here.
Quote:
Third, some have counseled the government to extend to gays and lesbians the right to “civil union.” This would give same-sex couples many of the rights of a wedded couple, but their relationships would not legally be considered marriage. In other words, they would be equal, but not quite as equal as the rest of Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, the courts have clearly and consistently ruled that this option would offend the equality provisions of the Charter. For instance, the British Columbia Court of Appeal stated that, and I quote: “Marriage is the only road to true equality for same-sex couples. Any other form of recognition of same-sex relationships ...falls short of true equality.”
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