Love and marriage have long been intertwined in Ontario, and as of March 1, a new development has made it easier for couples to tie the knot in a civil ceremony. A private member's bill sponsored by Conservative MPPs Dave Smith and Matthew Rae has become law, allowing MPPs to officiate civil ceremonies in the province, provided the couple has a valid marriage license.
This development adds MPPs to the short list of individuals authorized to conduct civil ceremonies in Ontario, which includes city clerks or their designates, band council-approved Indigenous leaders, and justices of the peace or judges. The new law aims to address concerns faced by couples, particularly those living in rural areas, who may find it difficult to access city hall for a ceremony.
Smith, who represents Peterborough—Kawartha, shared that he had heard from constituents about the challenges of getting married, citing concerns about access and the desire for a more personalized ceremony. In response, he sponsored the bill to allow MPPs to officiate civil ceremonies on a volunteer basis, with no payment involved.
According to Smith, MPPs must first obtain permission from the public and business service delivery minister to officiate and can do so for a period of 12 months after leaving office. This ensures that couples are not left scrambling to find a new officiant in the event of a snap election or other unexpected circumstances.
Smith emphasized that the law is not partisan, and any MPP can officiate a civil ceremony. Ontario is currently the only province to have elected officials performing this role, and Smith cited the need for "some key language" to be used during the ceremony, including a statement that the marriage is a voluntary act.
As for his first experience as an officiant, Smith reported that it was a positive and rewarding experience. He sat down with the couple, discussed their vows, and felt honored to be able to perform the ceremony. Although they did have one request – that he not wear his kilt – Smith took it in stride, laughing about the request.
