sychological and social difference that results from gays and lesbians being treatedunequally and not having the option that allows them to have formal legal recognition for their relationship at any time theywish. A major legal difference is that until the parties have cohabited for the prescribed period, they are not "spouses" andnot do not have the rights and obligations towards each other or other parties that spouses have. There may also be a lackof clarity for the partners and others as exactly when the ascribed status is (or is not) attained. Further, there remain somesignificant legislative differences between ascribed spouses and married spouses, such as in regard to marital property. Whiledifferences in treatment may be justified if partners who cohabit have chosen not to formalize their relationship,discriminatory treatment may not be justifiable if do not have this opportunity. Near Marriage - The Registered Domestic Partnership:For some politicians and advocates, the near- marital RDP has the advantage of being a compromise that may beacceptable to many Canadians, at least as an interim measure on the road to eventual acceptance of the right of same sexpartners to marry. For provincial politicians, who lack jurisdiction over "marriage," the enactment of RDP legislation may bethe best way to recognize the equality of same sex relationships. For some intimate couples, both heterosexual and homosexual, entry into an institution other than "marriage" (with itsgendered and patriarchal connotations) may be preferable to marriage; the creation of a new near-marital institution may bedesirable. There may also be some non-conjugal partners who will want to enter into a RDP, depending on its social andlegal nature. The nature of any RDP legislation that might be enacted in Canada will depend on what rights same sex partners have toenter the status of marriage at the time of enactment. If same sex partners have the right to enter the ...
