Prime Minster Stephen Harper couldnt avoid the issue of same-sex marriage on his visit to North Vancouver on Thursday.
But he would prefer not to talk about it.
Were not going to reopen on that particular issue, Harper told a group of reporters at Vancouver Shipyards.
Nevertheless, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson weighed in on the topic Friday morning.
Currently, foreign same-sex couples that were married in Canada cannot legally get a divorce. Nicholson confirmed at a Toronto luncheon that all same-sex marriages in Canada are valid and legal. Despite remarks from Harper, Nicholson says that the government is working to change the Civil Marriages Act.
At the moment any couple, heterosexual or homosexual, that files for divorce in Canada must meet a one-year residency requirement. According to Nicholson that law will change, allowing foreign couples the option of divorce.
The Prime Minster stopped in North Vancouver yesterday to publicly announce an $8-billion shipbuilding deal with Seaspan. The deal will employ thousands of people over the next 30 years.
Greenpeace protesters were also on hand to protest the federal governments position on the Northern Gateway project. The project is under federal review, but if approved it would mean the construction of an oil pipeline built from Northern Alberta to the B.C. coast. Oil would then be shipped by tankers to Asia.
Protesters chanted and held up signs saying Leadership Not Tanker Ships in front of the Pemberton area shipyard.
npescod@nsnews.com
