Saskatchewan seeks same-sex exemptions

REGINA, Saskatchewan, July 6 (UPI) -- Saskatchewan marriage commissioners should be allowed to refuse to perform same-sex unions if it violates their religious beliefs, the state government says.

The province's Saskatchewan Party government is seeking a legal opinion on whether its proposed legislation is in compliance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Monday.

Provincial Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan told the CBC the state government will propose two options to the court -- one that would allow existing marriage commissions to refuse to perform same-sex marriages and another in which a religious exemption would be granted to future commissioners.

Saskatchewan's previous New Democratic Party government had required marriage commissioners to marry gay and lesbian couples, even if such unions ran against their personal religious beliefs, the broadcaster said.