Department of Justice

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PROPOSES AMENDMENT TO BILL C-23

OTTAWA, March 22, 2000 - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced today that the Government of Canada will propose an amendment to Bill C-23, The Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act.

The amendment will confirm the Government of Canada's commitment to the institution of marriage by reaffirming that nothing in Bill C-23 affects the meaning of marriage, which remains "the lawful union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others."

Bill C-23, introduced February 11, 2000, will amend 68 federal statutes to extend benefits and obligations to same-sex couples on the same basis as common-law opposite-sex couples. It will amend legislation to recognize the principle of equal treatment for common-law relationships under federal law in relation to benefits and obligations.

"I have repeatedly said that this bill is about fairness. It is not about marriage and will not change the legal definition of marriage," McLellan said. "Having said that, I recognize that it is important to Canadians to clearly indicate in Bill C-23 that the definition of marriage will not change."

The amendment will be proposed today before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

A copy of the amendment is enclosed.

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Ref.:

Farah Mohamed
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621

Lisa Hitch
Department of Justice
(613) 954-3591