Same-sex marriage in Nunavut


Same-sex marriage in Nunavut has been legal since 20 July 2005. The territory began granting marriage licences to same-sex couples upon the passage of the federal Civil Marriage Act. Previously, beginning in October 2003, same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions were legally recognized in Nunavut.

Premier Paul Okalik's statement

On 30 October 2003, Premier Paul Okalik made the following statement:
He further suggested that the territory would perform same-sex divorces should the issue arise.
Premier Okalik succeeded in passing a territorial human rights code banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. As well, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Liberal MP for the riding of Nunavut, was re-elected in the 2006 election after having supported same-sex marriage.
During the March 2004 general election, one of Premier Okalik's main opponents ran on the basis that he would repeal the territory's human rights legislation on sexual orientation, and would not recognize same-sex marriages.

Territorial legislation

In October 2011, the Marriage Act was amended by replacing the words "husband and wife" with "spouses". The Adoption Act was also amended by changing the definition of spouse to include same-sex couples, thus allowing them to adopt children jointly.

Marriage statistics

From July 2005 to October 2006, only one same-sex couple married in Nunavut, the lowest among all of Canada's states and territories.
According to Statistics Canada, there were 25 same-sex couples living in Nunavut in 2016, though it is unknown how many of these were married, in a common-law marriage or cohabiting.
The first same-sex marriage involving an Inuk man was performed in June 2017. There had already been one marriage involving an Inuk lesbian couple. The first same-sex marriage in Cambridge Bay was performed in August 2018.