One of the most tumultuous debates in Canadian history effectively came to an end on Tuesday when the Senate voted in favour of same-sex marriage; a move that will make Canada the fourth country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.
The adoption of the Liberal Government’s Bill C-38 by 47 - 21 was met with a number of cheers of approval within the Senate, but not without having first divided the country, families, religious groups and Parliament itself.
In the course of the debate three senators have abstained, and there are now 95 sitting senators and 10 vacancies.
The bill, which will become law after it is given royal ascent, allows all gay and lesbian couples to marry in courthouses and city halls right across Canada.
Ione Christensen, the 71-year-old senator from Whitehorse, said: "You have no idea what a difference it makes to the human spirit to know that you are treated equally under the law."
In addition, a liberal Senator Jim Munson said, "Same-sex, same rights."
After arduous debating on the issue on Tuesday, the Liberals had actually threatened to invoke closure and call a snap vote on C-38, before finally managing to call the vote.
The bill was passed not without the cost of some party fealty, with one Liberal MP, Pat O’ Brien, quitting his party caucus in opposition to the bill. Joe Commuzzi followed just before the vote in the House of Commons, the lower house of the Canadian Parliament, resigning from the federal Cabinet.
