Canada will address a loophole in its gay marriage laws that
means foreigners who marry in the country will have their marriage
recognised in Canada even if it is not recognised in their home
jurisdiction.
The loophole meant gay marriages could not be dissolved in
Canada if gay marriage was not legal in their home country.
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson told Reuters: "We will change the
Civil Marriage Act so that any marriages performed in Canada that
aren't recognised in the couple's home jurisdiction will be
recognised in Canada. This of course will apply to all marriages
performed in Canada."
Court documents emerged on Thursday about a government argument
concerning two women, one from Britain and one from Florida, who
married in Canada but could not seek a divorce there because their
marriage was not valid.
Under Canadian law the marriage of the two women was not valid
because the two women could not have legally wed in England or
Florida. The Canadian Divorce Act also states any couple wishing to
end a marriage in Canada must have lived there for a year.
Thousands of gay couples have flocked to Canada since 2005, when
the country became one of the first to legalise gay marriage.
