Gay Today: World

Canada: Where Gay Rights Are Well-Advanced

By Rex Wockner
International News Report

All but one of Canada's 12 provinces and territories ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, according to a new report from the national lobby group Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere. The Northwest Territories is the lone holdout.

All but four provinces/territories (Alberta, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland) grant equal workplace benefits to same-sex partners of government employees.

Three provinces require equal pension benefits for gay and lesbian employees: British Columbia (implementation pending), Ontario and Nova Scotia.

British Columbia and Ontario also allow gay couples to adopt, extend child-support laws to same-sex pairs, and guarantee that a same-sex partner can make medical decisions on behalf of an incapacitated lover.

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Related Sites:
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
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On the federal level, discrimination based on sexual orientation is illegal and workplace benefits are provided to government employees' same-sex partners.