(ARC-CPOD) Dec. 10, 2004 - Many adults in Canada are in favour of same-sex marriage, according to a poll by Ipsos-Reid released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. 71 per cent of respondents support some form of legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of allowing the federal government to go ahead with a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage. The country's foremost tribunal said the constitution protects the rights of homosexual partners to formalize their bonds.

For 39 per cent of respondents, same-sex marriage should be fully recognized and equal to conventional heterosexual marriage, while 32 per cent say the concept should be allowed to exist in civil law, but not have the same legal weight as a conventional marriage. 27 per cent of respondents believe same-sex marriage is wrong and should never be lawful.

Justice minister Irwin Cotler said the government would introduce legislation on same-sex marriage in January 2005. Prime minister Paul Martin has guaranteed Liberal party members a "free vote" on the bill. The governing Liberals currently control 134 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons.

Over the past two years, the courts in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Yukon have ruled to allow legal same-sex marriages.

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