The Civil Marriage Act, officially known as Bill C-38, was a Canadian law passed in 2005 that legalized same-sex marriage across the country. This legislative move was the result of decades of advocacy by LGBTQ+ rights groups and represented a broader shift in public opinion towards accepting diverse forms of love and partnership. The Act provided same-sex couples with the same legal rights and responsibilities as heterosexual couples, including matters of divorce, inheritance, and parental rights.

In the years leading up to the passing of the Civil Marriage Act, various provinces had already begun to recognize same-sex marriages through court rulings and legislation. Notably, in 2003, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that excluding same-sex couples from marriage was unconstitutional. This paved the way for similar rulings in other provinces, creating a patchwork of legal recognition across the country. The federal government, under Prime Minister Paul Martin, officially introduced the Civil Marriage Act, seeking to unify these rights nationwide and affirming Canada’s commitment to equality for all citizens.

The passage of the Act was met with both support and opposition. Supporters heralded it as a significant step toward equality and human rights, while opponents raised concerns about the traditional definition of marriage. Despite the contentious debates, the Act received Royal Assent on July 20, 2005, marking a historic moment that positioned Canada as one of the first countries in the world to legalize same-sex marriage across the nation. Implementation was immediate, allowing same-sex couples to wed as soon as the legislation was enacted.