"In 2000, Canadian law formally recognized a reality that many people had been living with for years, same sex couples in long term relationships. Parliament passed the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, amending 68 different federal statutes to extend protections and responsibilities to common law partners and including same sex couples for the first time. Angela Misri 0:30 Welcome to Canadian Time Machine, a podcast that explores key milestones in our country's history. I'm Angela Misri."
"The Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act wasn't just a technical change. It affected everyday life, from pensions and hospital visits to tax and family benefits. It shaped families finances and the way relationships were recognized before we get into the legal and political debates that made this law possible, let's hear from someone whose humour, art and perspective gives a window into how these things played out in her community."
In 2000 Canada passed the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, amending 68 federal statutes to formally recognize common-law partners and include same-sex couples. The law extended pension, hospital visitation, tax and family benefit entitlements and imposed related responsibilities, reshaping family finances and legal recognition of relationships. The change emerged from parliamentary debates and broader social activism that translated lived realities into federal protection. Artist-activists such as Steen Starr reflected community experiences through performance and humour, while politicians including Libby Davies participated in legislative processes. The Act marked a legal milestone that broadened freedoms and everyday protections for queer couples.
Read at The Walrus
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