Same-sex marriage in the Northwest Territories
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Same-sex marriage in the Northwest Territories: The Northwest Territories began granting marriage licences to same-sex couples on July 20, 2005 upon the granting of Royal Assent to the Civil Marriage Act.
In December 2004, NWT Justice Minister Charles Dent stated the government would not issue marriage licences to same-sex couples until a court ruling or federal legislation legalized them. However, he indicated that the territory would not contest any lawsuit on the subject, and would comply with such a ruling or law.
On May 20, 2005, a Yellowknife couple sued the Northwest Territories government over the right to get married, saying that refusing them a licence is a violation of their Charter rights. The territorial Supreme Court was supposed to hear the case on Friday, May 27, 2005; however, it was adjourned for some three weeks at the request of a couple who wanted intervenor status in the case in order to oppose same-sex marriage. The couple was granted intervenor status, and on Friday, June 17, 2005, CBC North reported that the intervenors had requested Party Status in the case. If it had been granted by the territorial Supreme Court, it would have given them more direct involvement in the case, and the right to appeal in the event the judge sided with the plaintiffs' request to redefine marriage in the territory. The case was again put off again for nearly another three weeks, and was set to resume Wednesday, July 6.
It is likely the case will be dismissed now that Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act has been given royal assent.
