The federal Department of Citizenship and Immigration announced today that effective immediately it will begin recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples, and will process their immigration applications as married couples.

"It's encouraging to see the federal government follow through on its commitment to equal marriage," said Alex Munter, Co-chair of Canadians for Equal Marriage. "Same-sex couples have been getting married in Canada for almost a year. Legal recognition of those marriages is tremendously important, both for the couples and for the rule of law."

This will improve the lives of loving and committed same-sex couples who want to live in Canada," said immigration lawyer El-Farouk Khaki. "In today's world, it is not at all uncommon for Canadians and non-Canadians to meet, fall in love, and want to marry. If they are denied the ability to marry or denied recognition of their marriage for immigration purposes, their lives will be made unnecessarily difficult."

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