Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 22/05) - A Yellowknife couple challenging the legality of same-sex marriage in the NWT, says the unions will have a devastating affect on the country.

"The consequences could be far reaching, severe and detrimental to Canadian society," home-maker Ruby Trudel said in court documents.

Trudel and her husband Laurin have applied to intervene in a precedent-setting lawsuit that could change marriage laws in the Northwest Territories.

Two Yellowknife men, Jason Perrino and Colin Snow, launched a legal challenge last month seeking the right to marry. The federal and territorial governments won't oppose the lawsuit - which prompted the Trudels to seek intervenor status in the landmark case.

"I believe I can represent the concerns of significant and diverse segments of society which could be greatly affected by any ruling," Ruby Trudel said in court documents.

Sheila MacPherson, who represents Perrino and Snow, said she will fight the application from the Trudels. The couple must receive approval from a judge to intervene in the case. Lawyers will argue the issue during a hearing in Supreme Court, July 6.

Don Babey, a spokesperson for the gay and lesbian group OutNorth, said there is no evidence same-sex unions have contributed to the disintegration of traditional marriage.

"I do not see how allowing two people, who love and care for each other, to marry is detrimental to the institution of marriage." Babey suggested the argument is usually made to mask prejudice against gays and lesbians.

Judgements unchanged

Eight other Canadian jurisdictions currently extend marriage rights to same sex couples. While outside parties have intervened in other cases, they have not been able to sway judgements against same-sex unions, MacPherson said.

The Liberal government announced this week it would bring forward a motion to delay parliament's summer break until it passes a bill that would make same-sex marriages legal across the country.

Well known

Ruby Trudel is well known in the capital as an anti-smoking advocate and was the spokesperson for the lobby group Tobacco Action Yellowknife. She was also a member of Northwest Territories Breast Cancer Action Group, which raised awareness and money to fight the disease.

Laurin Trudel is a senior engineer with the Department of Transportation according to the territorial government website.

The Trudels did not return a phone message seeking comment and their lawyer said they were not interested in discussing the case.