VANCOUVER, July 9, 2003

The B.C. Court of Appeal, in a sudden reversal of position, yesterday ruled that its own ruling of May 1st, 2003, which utterly revised the existing definition on the federal institution of marriage, as between one man and one woman, to a new radical definition as 'the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others' will not be phased in by July 12th, 2004, but takes effect immediately.

Yesterday's ruling was in response by a petition brought by gay and lesbian activists. This decision makes the B.C. effective date coincide with the ruling of the Lower Court of Appeals issued in Ontario on June 10th, 2003.

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