Gay Marriages in Canada

From the CBC:

The Liberal government will introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage when Parliament resumes sitting in January, Prime Minister Paul Martin said Thursday.

In an opinion released earlier in the day, nine Supreme Court judges asked to review draft legislation extending marriage rights to gays and lesbians said such a move would be constitutional.

That legal opinion clears the way for the Liberal government to introduce a bill early in the new year.

"Marriage"? "Civil Union"? Much of the debate seems to be over whether it is appropriate to alter the definition of "marriage." There probably are economic ramifications, though, including such things as pension and benefit entitlements.