title: Federal law recognizes same-sex "common-law partners".
abstract: On 31 July 2000, legislation enacted by Parliament to amend 68 different federal statutes so as to recognize gay and lesbian common-law couples as having the same rights and obligations as heterosexual common-law couples came into force.
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018454:Spouses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*