By Bill Rodgers
OTTAWA -- Same-sex marriages are being performed on Canadian military bases but the actual number is being kept under wraps.
The first wedding, conducted by a United Church minister, took place a year ago when two male soldiers were married in a chapel at CFB Greenwood in Nova Scotia, under military guidelines that were established before federal legislation became law last July. While the first ceremony garnered some headlines at the time, the names of the sergeant and warrant officer remained private.
"There are chaplains in the CF ... whose denominations allow them to marry couples of the same-sex, and anecdotally, in addition to the marriage in Greenwood, we're aware that there have been one or more marriages either conducted by a CF chaplain or involving a CF member or members," National Defence spokesman Joanna Calder told Sun Media.
But she couldn't give a precise number because the department doesn't track or collect figures on same-sex marriage.
"To the Canadian Forces a marriage is a marriage, and they collect stats on the numbers of marriages but not the gender of the participants," Calder said.
The first wedding, conducted by a United Church minister, took place a year ago when two male soldiers were married in a chapel at CFB Greenwood in Nova Scotia, under military guidelines that were established before federal legislation became law last July. While the first ceremony garnered some headlines at the time, the names of the sergeant and warrant officer remained private.
"There are chaplains in the CF ... whose denominations allow them to marry couples of the same-sex, and anecdotally, in addition to the marriage in Greenwood, we're aware that there have been one or more marriages either conducted by a CF chaplain or involving a CF member or members," National Defence spokesman Joanna Calder told Sun Media.
But she couldn't give a precise number because the department doesn't track or collect figures on same-sex marriage.
"To the Canadian Forces a marriage is a marriage, and they collect stats on the numbers of marriages but not the gender of the participants," Calder said.
The emotionally charged same-sex marriage issue will heat up again this fall, when the Stephen Harper government delivers on a campaign promise to give MPs an opportunity to restore the traditional definition of marriage.
Already, both sides of the issue are lining up to do battle. The head of the Canada Family Action Coalition expects the Tories to allow a complete public debate on the issue, something he said the previous Liberal government choked off.
"I have faith in Parliament and I have faith that they will decide to, at the very least, give due process," said Charles McVety. He believes Canada could end up in the same place on the issue as France - where a same-sex couple is entitled to "all rights" and benefits of a married man and woman, but marriage has not been redefined.
The executive director of Egale Canada said the Harper Tories should just get on with the vote as soon as possible.
Gilles Marchildon said Egale's own number-crunching of MPs on the issue indicates a motion to reopen the debate would fail with the current makeup of the minority Parliament.
Already, both sides of the issue are lining up to do battle. The head of the Canada Family Action Coalition expects the Tories to allow a complete public debate on the issue, something he said the previous Liberal government choked off.
"I have faith in Parliament and I have faith that they will decide to, at the very least, give due process," said Charles McVety. He believes Canada could end up in the same place on the issue as France - where a same-sex couple is entitled to "all rights" and benefits of a married man and woman, but marriage has not been redefined.
The executive director of Egale Canada said the Harper Tories should just get on with the vote as soon as possible.
Gilles Marchildon said Egale's own number-crunching of MPs on the issue indicates a motion to reopen the debate would fail with the current makeup of the minority Parliament.
(Αναδημοσίευση από την καναδική εφημερίδα Edmonton Sun, 4-6-06)
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