Ontario's Health Minister George Smitherman speaks to the media on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005 in Toronto, Ont. (CP / Nathan Denette) Conservative Leader Stephen Harper delivers his campaign speech at a rally in Montreal. (CP / Tom Hanson)

Gays rush to altar, fearing marriage law at risk

CTV.ca News Staff
January 19, 2006 9:48 AM ET

Gay couples across Canada are rushing to the altar, worried that a possible Conservative government will reverse the legalization of same sex marriages.

David Lockwood and Jason Cass got married Wednesday in Toronto.

"We decided Saturday night (to get married) Wednesday afternoon. The election is Monday. We wanted to do it before Monday," Cass said.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said at the beginning of the election campaign that he would allow a free vote on the issue if the Conservatives form the next government.

Pastor Mickey Wilson in Edmonton is scheduled to marry five same-sex couples in 10 days.

Toronto's city hall wedding co-ordinator, Louise Code, said there are 10 same-sex marriages booked for Friday.

"We've noticed a considerable surge in same-sex weddings that wish to be performed," she said.

So has Winnipeg wedding planning company Pride Bride.

Co-owner Rita Leonard told CTV's Canada AM Thursday her company has been getting many more calls than usual with the looming election. Some couples are considering marriage as a political statement and others are just looking at holding their weddings sooner, she said.

"For the most part we're telling people to be cautious, you know, take your time, don't rush into anything," Leonard said. 

"Nothing is going to change overnight," added Pride Bride's marriage commissioner, Paula Rutledge. "We have lots of time, and we don't feel that people have to panic."

Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman and his partner are also considering pushing up their marriage date if Harper becomes prime minister.

"We're concerned that the rights we currently have that are constitutionally guaranteed are put at risk by Mr. Harper," Smitherman said.

Same-sex marriage was legalized by the Liberal government last spring when it changed the definition of marriage to include such unions.

Rutledge said she doesn't think revoking the rights would be easy or fair.

"You can't put the genie back in the bottle, and for us to have no equality with a similar same-sex couple that lives next door to us, I just can't see it."

The wedding rush is occurring as Vote Marriage Canada, a supporter of traditional marriage, released on Wednesday a list of 50 election candidates it is endorsing. The list includes Conservative candidates such as Stephen Harper, Jason Kenney and Vic Toews, who are opposed to same-sex marriage.

The group's leader, former Conservative MP Grant Hill, called for a free vote on the issue.

"Win or not, I'll be satisfied with the results of a free vote," he said.

Another group, Equipping Christians for the Public Square, is encouraging Christians to vote for candidates who favour traditional marriage.

"We're saying look at the candidates and those candidates who are going to defend that institution (of marriage), those are the ones we're encouraging you to vote for," Rev. Kirstin Emanuel, a Presbyterian minister and president of the group, told CTV's Mike Duffy.

Liberal Leader Paul Martin also brought up the issue Wednesday. He said Harper is "out of step" with Canadian values on issues including same sex-marriage and abortion.

"The question isn't change. It's change for what? I don't believe that Canadians want to roll back the clock."

Some are questioning whether a Harper government would have the constitutional right to redefine marriage as being a union between a man and a woman.

"Ultimately, it's clear that it won't work to try and take away equal marriage,'' said Laurie Arron, director of advocacy for Egale Canada, a gay and lesbian rights organization said. He added that courts in eight provinces have already ruled it's unconstitutional to exclude same-sex couples from civil marriage.

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said the concerns of gay couples aren't unwarranted.

"What's troubling people isn't the immediate effect of what Mr. Harper intends, but the cast of mind that is so quick to over ride the constitution and charter of rights," he said on Countdown with Mike Duffy.

Duffy also questioned whether the Liberal Party has a double standard because 32 of its MPs voted against same sex marriage last year.

Cotler reiterated the Liberals are concerned about Harper's lack of respect for the Charter of Rights.

With files from CTV's Austin Delaney, Erin Isfeld and The Canadian Press