Government Announces Royal Assent for Amendments to the Civil Marriage Act
OTTAWA, June 27, 2013 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., MP for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announces that Royal Assent has been granted to Bill C-32, amending the Civil Marriage Act.
These amendments ensure that marriages of non-resident couples performed in Canada are legally valid in Canada. They also provide a new process for non-residents who married in Canada to dissolve their Canadian marriage if they are unable to divorce under the law of their home country because that marriage is not recognized.
“When our Government tabled this legislation, we made it clear that we had no intention of reopening the same-sex marriage debate,” said Minister Nicholson. “We acted in good faith and, with Royal Assent, we are eliminating the gap left in the existing law.”
The amendments to the Act also apply to marriages performed in Canada between non-residents before these amendments came into force. They do not apply to marriages performed outside Canada or to marriages of Canadian residents.
The provisions of Part 1, validating the marriages of non-residents, take effect immediately. The provisions of Part 2, setting out a new process for non-residents to divorce in Canada, will take effect on a date to be determined by Order in Council.
An online version of the legislation is available
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