Is gay marriage legal in Canada?

Gay marriage is legal throughout all of Canada.

Don't know the answer to the rest of your question though.

As noted by the poster above me it is legal throughout Canada and has been since July 2005 (some provinces had legalized it up to two years before that). Canada was apparently the fourth country to legalize same-sex marriage. You can find out more fun facts by reading this wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Canada

I don't think the 'by the power vested in me' thing *has* to be stated, at least I don't remember it being said when my friend was married. Maybe it's an American thing?

Marriage is just a choice, there's nothing wrong with two gay people choosing to marry and two straight people with a baby choosing not to get married.
The whole point with legalizing gay marriage is not to have all gay couples marry but to give them that option.

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Life's a show you don't get to rehearse
And every single verse can make it that much worse

Interesting, I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks that the big amount of unnecessary gay characters is for political reasons or something.

No, it's not a political thing. If you're wathing in the US I can understand how it might seem that way, but in Canada it's really not a big deal. Gay marriage has been legal for quite a while and there really isn't any more of a debate about the issue.

Gay marriage also allows for partners to share in benefits that tradtional would be forwarded to a traditional spouse. Ie pensions, death benefits, medical coverage, etc.

Gay is so yesterday in Toronto. Most people know and associate with gay folks and don't even give it a thought. To have a gay character on a show nowadays is no big deal.

Although there are still some that have a real problem with it.

I agree with the posts from the last two people. I don't think they're pushing any kind of political agenda on anyone. I've lived in Toronto my whole life, and gay marriage is not as much of a hot button issue here as it is in the states. It's just something that happens. (Don't get me wrong - I'm aware of the struggles it tnvolved to make it happen, and how much we should appreciate it.)

While I don't think the show has an agenda, I do think that they like to be truthful about Canada and Toronto and the people who live here, and that's just what they've done for four years.

As has been stated, gay marriage has been legal across Canada since 2005, and legal in Ontario (home of Being Erica) for even longer (2003 IIRC). Thus, it's hardly a political statement or anything of the sort - just another day in Toronto life.

Further, The L Word was showing gay marriages (albeit not legal ones) years ago on TV and was an American show, so if any TV show did it for an "agenda"...

I frankly find your insinuation pretty insulting. Gay characters can't exist on TV except to further some cause? Seriously? I'm going to excuse you partially because in America, it's a huge issue, but here, it's a non-factor. It just is. It never was as big a deal here in Canada, as our Charter of Rights and Freedoms (similar to your Constitution and Amendments) has protected gays from discrimination explicitly for many years. The Charter was what led to the fairly summary striking down of marriage laws and legalization of same-sex marriage.

All of this said, Ivan and Dave are just another couple getting married. No more.

As for the "power vested in me", I believe that is certain churches, first off (not every church does gay marriage here - United will, civil officiants will/must by law), so it's not a given thing; second, as per my officiant for my pending nuptials, the only things that must be said by law in Ontario for a marriage to be legal are the following:

1) the couple must be asked if they know of any reason they cannot be married (ie, already married) - this asserts that couple is legally able to marry if they want to and is legally binding to say
2) the "will you" and "I do" consent to marry must happen

The "by the power vested in me" is old school cliche and unnecessary. I didn't even see it at all in the ceremonies offered to me. I think it's reserved for church weddings by a reverend/church leader only. I'm not marrying in a church (I'm Pagan).

Oh, and also? Your comments about Sam and Lenin are totally archaic and sexist. Marriage does not make you morally superior as parents. Marriage has nothing to do with morality. It's a couple that wants to express a bond, the end - something that can and is done without a piece of paper and a ceremony every day. You just insulted every single gay couple in the US raising children, every couple who prefers common-law because of the cost of weddings or cannot marry because they're of different religions (Lebanon) etc.

If anyone has an agenda/moralistic intentions regarding the show's plot, it's you.