The omnibus legislation would extend benefits and obligations to same-sex common-law couples on the same basis as opposite-sex common-law couples. Sixty-eight statutes involving some 20 departments are affected. Amendments will be made to statutes
such as the Income Tax Act, the Canada Pension Plan, the Criminal Code and the Old Age Security Act.
The proposed legislation maintains the clear distinction between married and unmarried relationships and, wherever possible, uses neutral terms and language to define relationships and the partners in them. The term "spouse" refers to
married couples only, and the term "common-law partner" encompasses people in common-law relationships, both same-sex and opposite-sex.
The definition of marriage has not changed. The Government of Canada has no intention of changing the legal definition of marriage. Although a few European countries have limited recognition of same-sex relationships, a clear distinction is maintained
in the law between marriage and same-sex partnerships.
The changes are balanced — obligations as well as benefits will be conferred on same-sex couples. The fiscal impact of these amendments will be minimal if any at all.
Both federally and provincially, there have been many challenges before courts and human rights tribunals concerning benefits for same-sex couples. In its May 1999 ruling in M. v. H., the Supreme Court of Canada made it clear that governments
cannot limit benefits or obligations by discriminating against same-sex common-law relationships. Denying equal treatment before the law to same-sex common-law partners is contrary to the principles of equality enshrined in the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms as well as the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Several provinces have already begun to amend their legislation. Since 1997, British Columbia has amended numerous statutes, including six core statutes, to add same-sex couples. In June 1999, Quebec amended 28 statutes and 11 regulations to grant
same-sex couples the same benefits and obligations that are available to opposite-sex common-law couples. And in October 1999, to comply with the Supreme Court decision in M. v.H., Ontario passed omnibus legislation to bring 67
statutes into compliance with the ruling.
Parliament passed legislation (Bill C-78) that extended survivor pension benefits to the same-sex partners of federal public service employees, as have Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Yukon,
Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. As well, the majority of large cities in Canada and more than 200 private sector Canadian companies currently provide benefits to the same-sex partner of their employees, as do many municipalities, hospitals,
libraries and social service institutions across Canada.
The following are examples of benefits and obligations that would be granted to all common-law relationships, both opposite-sex and same-sex, under the Government's proposed legislation.
Canada Pension Plan (benefits)
Under the Canada Pension Plan, the surviving spouse in a married relationship or the surviving partner in an opposite-sex common-law relationship may qualify for survivor's benefits based on his or her spouse's or partner's
contributions to the plan. These changes would provide that, in similar circumstances, the surviving partner in a same-sex common-law relationship would qualify for the same benefits.
Conflict of Interest (obligations)
The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act limits the ability of married persons to transfer ownership of their home or property to their spouse prior to declaring bankruptcy. Yet because this statute refers to "spouse," it does not apply
equally to opposite-sex common-law couples or to same-sex common-law couples. In this instance, the changes would provide for similar obligations for married and opposite-sex and same-sex common-law couples.
LEGISLATION
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LOIS
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Agricultural Marketing Programs Act
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Loi sur les programmes de commercialisation agricole
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Bank Act
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Loi sur les banques
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Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
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Loi sur la faillite et l'insolvabilité
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Bills of Exchange Act
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Loi sur les lettres de change
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Bridges Act
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Loi sur les ponts
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Business Development Bank of Canada Act
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Loi sur la banque de développement du Canada
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Canada Business Corporations Act
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Loi canadienne sur les sociétés par actions
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Canada Cooperatives Act
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Loi canadienne sur les coopératives
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Canada Corporations Act
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Loi sur les corporations canadiennes
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Canada Elections Act
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Loi électorale du Canada
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Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act
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Loi sur la Société d'hypothèques et de logement
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Canada Pension Plan
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Régime de pensions du Canada
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Canadian Forces Superannuation Act
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Loi sur la pension de retraite des Forces canadiennes
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Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal Act
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Loi sur la médaille canadienne du maintien de la paix
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Canadian Wheat Board Act
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Loi sur la Commission canadienne du blé
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Carriage by Air Act, Schedule II
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Loi sur le transport aérien
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Citizenship Act
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Loi sur la citoyenneté
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Civil Service Insurance Act
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Loi sur l'assurance du service civil
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Civilian War-related Benefits Act
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Loi sur les prestations de guerre pour les civils
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Cooperative Credit Associations Act
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Loi sur les associations coopératives de crédit
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Corporations Returns Act
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Loi sur les déclarations des personnes morales
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Corrections and Conditional Release Act
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Loi sur le système correctionnel et la mise en liberté sous condition
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Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act
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Loi sur les Cris et les Naskapis du Québec
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Criminal Code
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Code criminel
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Customs Act
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Loi sur les douanes
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Defence Services Pension Continuation Act
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Loi sur la continuation de la pension des services de défense
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Diplomatic Service (Special) Superannuation Act
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Loi sur la pension spéciale du service diplomatique
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Employment Insurance Act
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Loi sur l'assurance-emploi
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Escheats Act
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Loi sur les biens en déshérence
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Excise Tax Act
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Loi sur la taxe d'accise
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Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act
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Loi d'aide à l'exécution des ordonnances et des ententes familiales
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Firearms Act
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Loi sur les armes à feu
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Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act
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Loi sur les missions étrangères et les relations internationales
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Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act
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Loi sur la saisie-arrêt et la distraction de pensions
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Government Annuities Act
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Loi relative aux rentes sur l'État
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Government Corporations Operation Act
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Loi sur le fonctionnement des sociétés du secteur public
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Government Employees Compensation Act
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Loi sur l'indemnisation des agents de l'État
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Governor General's Act
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Loi sur le gouverneur général
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Income Tax Act
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Loi de l'impôt sur le revenu
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Income Tax Application Rules
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Règles concernant l'application de l'impôt sur le revenu
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Indian Act
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Loi sur les Indiens
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Insurance Companies Act
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Loi sur les sociétés d'assurances
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Judges Act
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Loi sur les juges
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Lieutenant Governors Superannuation Act
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Loi sur la pension de retraite des lieutenants-gouverneurs
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Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act
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Loi sur les allocations de retraite des parlementaires
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Merchant Seamen Compensation Act
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Loi sur l'indemnisation des marins marchands
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Old Age Security Act
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Loi sur la sécurité de la vieillesse
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Parliament of Canada Act
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Loi sur le parlement du Canada
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Pension Act
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Loi sur les pensions
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Pension Benefits Division Act
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Loi sur le partage des prestations de retraite
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Pension Benefits Standards Act 1985
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Loi de 1985 sur les normes de prestation de pension
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Pension Fund Societies Act
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Loi sur les sociétés de caisse de retraite
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Public Pensions Reporting Act
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Loi sur les rapports relatifs aux pensions publiques
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Public Service Employment Act
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Loi sur l'emploi dans la fonction publique
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Public Service Superannuation Act
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Loi sur la pension de la fonction publique
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Returned Soldiers Insurance Act
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Loi de l'assurance de soldats de retour
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Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pension Continuation Act
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Loi sur la continuation des pensions de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada
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Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act
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Loi sur la pension de retraite de la gendarmerie royale du Canada
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Special Import Measures Act
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Loi sur les mesures spéciales d'importation
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Special Retirement Arrangements Act
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Loi sur les régimes de retraite particuliers
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Supplementary Retirement Benefits Act
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Loi sur les prestations de retraite supplémentaires
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Trade Unions Act
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Loi sur les syndicats ouvriers
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Trust and Loan Companies Act
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Loi sur les sociétés de fiducie et de prêt
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Veterans Insurance Act
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Loi sur l'assurance des anciens combattants
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Veterans' Land Act
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Loi sur les terres destinées aux anciens combattants
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Veterans Review and Appeal Board Act
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Loi sur le tribunal des anciens combattants (révision et appel)
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Visiting Forces Act
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Loi sur les forces étrangères présentes au Canada
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War Veterans Allowance Act
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Loi sur les allocations aux anciens combattants
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