MAJORITY (55%) AGREE WITH SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT DEFINITION OF "SPOUSE" APPLY TO SAME-SEX COUPLES

MAJORITY (55%) AGREE WITH SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT DEFINITION OF "SPOUSE" APPLY TO SAME-SEX COUPLES

A MAJORITY (53%) AGREES THAT HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES SHOULD QUALIFY FOR LEGAL RECOGNITION OF MARRIAGE

A PLURALITY (44%) WANT PROVINCES TO VOLUNTARILY COMPLY WITH LAW, BUT THREE IN TEN (28%) WANT 'NOTWITHSTANDING' OPT-OUT - ESPECIALLY ALBERTA (42%) AND MANITOBA/SASKATCHEWAN (33%)

This National Angus Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll is based on a national telephone survey conducted between May 25th and May 30th, 1999 among a representative cross-section of 1,500 Canadian adults.

These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age and sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to 1996 Census data.

With a national sample of 1,500, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +2.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Ontario government's definition of "spouse" is unconstitutional because it applies only to heterosexual couples. As it turns out, the majority (55%) of Canadians believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the same rights and obligations as heterosexual couples in common-law relationships. Further, a majority (53%) thinks that homosexual couples who wish to marry, should qualify for legal recognition of the marriage. A plurality of Canadians (44%) say the government should begin to voluntarily change the definition of spouse to comply with the Supreme Court decision. But, three in ten (28%) want the 'notwithstanding' opt-out - especially in Alberta (42%) and Manitoba/Saskatchewan (38%) - while one quarter (25%) support a case-by-case change as they come up before the courts.

These are the highlights gleaned from a national Angus Reid Group/CTV/Globe and Mail telephone survey of 1,500 Canadian adults. Interviews were conducted between May 25th and May 30th, 1999. A sample size of 1,500 is said to have a corresponding margin of error of +2.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

The Majority (55%) of Canadians Support the Supreme Court Ruling in Favour of including Homosexual Relationships in the Legal Definition of Spouse

The majority (55%) of Canadians support the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling regarding the definition of "spouse". Respondents were read the following explanation of that decision: The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the Ontario government's definition of "spouse" is unconstitutional because it applies only to heterosexual couples, The Supreme Court's decision says that the definition of "spouse" should also apply to same-sex couples. This means that gay and lesbian couples would have the same legal rights and obligations as heterosexual couples in common-law relationships. For those who supported the landmark decision, more (34%) strongly support rather than somewhat support it (22%).

The opposite is true of those who are opposed (44%) to the Supreme Court ruling in favour of including homosexual couples under the legal definition of "spouse". While only 10% somewhat oppose the ruling, more than three times as many as (34%) strongly oppose it.

• Residents of Quebec (66%) and BC (56%) are more likely to support homosexual couples having the same rights and obligations as heterosexual common-law couples under the law.
• Alberta residents (55%) are more likely than the national average to oppose the Supreme Court decision in favour of including gay and lesbian couples in the definition of "spouse".
• The university educated (67%) are more likely to support the Supreme Court's ruling - compared to the national average (55%). Canadians aged 18 to 34 (67%) and women (61%) are also more likely to support the Supreme Court's decision.
• BQ (77%), Liberal (61%) and NDP (63%) voters are more likely to support the inclusion of homosexual couples under the definition of spouse than PC (43%) or Reform voters (28%).

A MAJORITY (53%) AGREES THAT HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES SHOULD QUALIFY FOR LEGAL RECOGNITION OF MARRIAGE

A majority (53%) of Canadians agrees that homosexual couples who wish to marry should qualify for legal recognition of marriage.

• Again, Quebecers (61%), British Columbians (54%) and Ontarians (53%) are more likely to say homosexual couples should be able to marry legally. On the other hand, residents of Alberta (56%) and Manitoba/Saskatchewan (53%) are most likely to say that homosexual couples should not be able to qualify for legal recognition of marriage.
• Once more, acceptance of homosexual marriage increases as amount of education increases (less than high school, 38%; completed high school, 50%; some post-secondary, 56%; university, 59%). Eighteen to 34 year olds (66%) are twice as likely as those aged 55+ (32%) to say that same-sex couples should qualify for legal recognition of marriage.
• Support for recognition of homosexual marriage based on federal voting intentions remains virtually unchanged from that of accepting the Supreme Court's ruling. BQ (67%), NDP (60%) and Liberal (58%) voters are more likely to say homosexual couples should be able to qualify for legal recognition of marriage. Whereas, Reform (64%) and PC (53%) are more likely to say that homosexual marriage should not be legally recognized.

A PLURALITY (44%) WANT PROVINCES TO VOLUNTARILY COMPLY WITH LAW, BUT THREE IN TEN (28%) WANT 'NOTWITHSTANDING' OPT-OUT - ESPECIALLY ALBERTA (42%) AND MANITOBA/SASKATCHEWAN (33%)

A plurality (44%) of Canadians say the government should voluntarily begin to change the definition of spouse in provincial laws to make them also apply to same-sex couples. At the opposite end of the spectrum, three in ten (28%) say the governments should use the Canadian constitution's notwithstanding clause to opt out of having to comply with the Supreme Court's decision. Another, 25% suggests that the government should change provincial laws on a case-by-case basis as they come up before the courts.

• Alberta (42%) and Manitoba/Saskatchewan (38%) are most likely to support the government invoking the notwithstanding clause - compared to the national average of 28%).
• Respondents living in Quebec (53%) are most likely to support the government beginning to change provincial laws in order to include homosexual couples under the definition of "spouse".
• The university educated (55%) are far more likely than other Canadians to suggest that the government voluntarily change the laws to include gay and lesbian couples under the definition of "spouse" - compared to national average (44%).
• Canadians under 55 years of age (50%) are far more likely than those over 55 (28%) to say that the government should begin to comply with the Supreme Court ruling voluntarily. Those over 55 years old (41%) are nearly twice as likely as younger Canadians (18 to 54, 23%) to suggest that the notwithstanding clause be invoked.
• The majority of BQ (63%) and NDP (56%) voters support voluntary compliance to the Supreme Court ruling. On the contrary, the majority (53%) of Reform voters support the government invoking the notwithstanding clause to opt-out of having to comply with the Supreme Court's decision.

Other issues Related to the Inclusion of Homosexual Couples in the Legal Definition of "Spouse"

Canadians are split (yes, 47%; no, 50%) on whether or not homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children. Respondents were asked the following: And, what do you think about the general issue of homosexual couples - either male or female - who want to adopt kids that are not the biological children of either of the partners in the relationship? In your opinion, assuming they meet the standards and requirements, should homosexual couples be legally allowed to adopt children?

• Quebec (53%), BC (48%) and Ontario (48%) residents are most likely to support same-sex couples being allowed to adopt non-biological children, while residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (63%) and Alberta (61%) are most likely to oppose same-sex couples adopting children that are not the biological child of one of the partners in the relationship.
• Acceptance of homosexual couples adopting children is inversely related to age (18 to 34, 60%; 35 to 54, 49%; 55+, 29%). And, women (52%) are more likely than men (42%) to agree that same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children.
• The university educated (57%) and BQ (65%) and NDP (59%) voters are most likely to support allowing qualified homosexuals to legally adopt children.

The greatest support for the legal acknowledgement of same-sex couples pertains to the issue of 'spousal benefits'. More than six in ten (63%) Canadians believe that "gays and lesbians should be entitled to spousal benefits. One third (35%) do not believe these benefits should be extended to same-sex couples. In fact, the majority of Canadians in every region believe same-sex couples should be granted spousal benefits - Quebec, 74%; BC, 63%; Atlantic, 62%; Ontario, 61%; Saskatchewan/Manitoba, 55% and Alberta, 51%.

• The university educated (71%), 18 to 34 year olds (73%) and women (68%) are most likely to support the rights of same-sex couples to receive spousal benefits.

John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Angus Reid Groupt
(416) 324-2900