Ruling coming in landmark (Canadian) gay rights case

[tuvor]

A long-running legal battle over same-sex survivor benefits that could carry a $100 million price tag for the federal government is about to end with a Supreme Court of Canada ruling.

The court's judgment, expected Thursday, will determine whether Ottawa is responsible for retroactive Canada Pension Plan payments to same-sex couples.

About 1,500 people or their estates -- including that of legendary gay rights activist George Hislop, who started the case but died in October 2005 -- are affected.

The main legal issue is to what extent Ottawa should be held liable for past wrongs that occurred in the Charter of Rights era.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070228/ssb_ruling_070228/20070228?hub=TopStories

[LibertyorDeath]

1. Will be watching closely

Hope they do the right thing.
As a Canadian tax payer
I think they should get their Pension Plan payments
I'm sure the born again intolerant fucks think otherwise.

[auntAgonist]

2. Gay couples won a partial victory in the Supreme Court today.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/03/01/3681390-cp.html

Top court says gay survivor benefits should not be retroactive to 1985

OTTAWA (CP) - Gay couples won a partial victory in the Supreme Court today.

The high court says retroactive Canada Pension Plan survivor benefits to gay couples should not extend all the way back to 1985. But it is allowing 12 months of retroactive compensation.

It ruled 7-0 that the federal government breached equality rights when it granted benefits only to survivors whose mates died after Jan. 1, 1998.

However, it said the government had made a "good faith" attempt to update its laws in 2000.