CANADIAN MINISTER: ALL GAY MARRIAGES ARE LEGAL

Canadian Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has confirmed that all same-sex marriages between foreigners performed in Canada are indeed valid.

Nicholson was responding to the controversy generated by a Department of Justice lawyer who claimed in a Toronto court that any marriages of foreigners preformed in Canada that are not recognised by their home governments are also not valid in Canada.

The news was a shock to many gay American couples who chose to marry in Canada because same-sex marriage remains barred in most U.S. states and is not recognised by the federal government.

On Friday, Nicholson said: “I want to make it clear that in our government’s view, these marriages are valid.”

He explained that “The Civil Marriage Act will be changed to ensure that any marriages performed in Canada that aren’t recognised in the couple’s home jurisdiction will be recognised in Canada nonetheless.

“This will apply to all marriages performed in Canada,” Nicholson said. “We have been clear that we have no desire to reopen this issue – both myself and the Prime Minister consider this debate to be closed,” Nicholson added.

Same-sex marriage was legalised in Canada in 2005, with thousands of gay and lesbian American couples crossing the border to marry in that country.