The Right to Marry

How would you like it if you needed a doctor's note to get married?

The current Alberta Marriage Act requires
a represented adult to get a doctor's note
 and guardian consent to get married

Today the Progressive Conservative Government of Alberta will be looking at the Marriage Act. 
Members of the Right to Love Group have been working for the last five years to have the Act changed for dependent adults no longer needing a doctor's note to get married. To learn more, watch our video at 2.34 

Here is the letter we sent to the Premier and Edmonton Journal Article to learn more. 

RE: Amendments to the Alberta Marriage Act RSO 2000,

Section 27 Mentally Handicapped

We are members of the Right to Love Group, a group of people with disabilities and allies from the Disability Action Hall and the Calgary Sexual Health Centre. Since 2010, we educate and create awareness of the right to love in Alberta. Members of the Right to Love Group understands Vital Statistics will be scheduling a review of the Alberta Marriage Act RSO 2000, in 2014. Please accept our letter to request the following changes and amendments to the Marriage Act:

1.     Substitute ‘Mentally Handicapped’ with ‘Represented Adult” Section 27, 1- Section 217 Section 1 (a) to now reference the ‘Adult Guardianship and Trustee Act’ part 1, definition Section 1 (hh) as ‘Represented Adult’ means an adult in respect of whom (i) an guardianship order is in effect.

2.     Strike Section 27 Section 1 (a) referencing an outdated act ‘The Mentally Incapacitated Persons Act’, RSA 1970 c232, as the act no longer exists.

3.     To remove the need for a doctor’s note

a.     Public/Guardian consent is already required as outlined in Section 27 (b) and (c). Guardians have day-today interactions with the ‘represented persons’ and a strong understanding of his/her adaptive functioning, reasoning and decision making abilities whereas a medical professional may only have a rapport of seeing a person once a year.

b.     A Doctor’s note is a financial barrier and makes the application process cumbersome.

We would be more than happy to participate in a public consultation with Vital Statistics. We would appreciate an update from Vital Statistics if these changes are possible. We can be reached at 403.717.7630 or actionhall@calgaryscope.org

Respectfully,

Members of the Right to Love Group