Yes it seems there are less folks getting married than before, and that is including same sex marriages as well. Now the data from Stats Canada is only until 2003, but it seems we have reached a plateau for marriages.
A total of 147,391 couples tied the knot in 2003, only 653 more than in 2002 and just 773 more than in 2001, according to vital statistics data from the provinces and the territories, which for the first time include limited information on same-sex marriages.
The most recent peak in marriages occurred in 2000 when 157,395 couples took their vows, presumably choosing to marry at the start of the new millennium.
So in Canada there were 0.4% more marriages in 2003 compared to 2002, which is interesting. Ontario (the Good) had a healthy increase of 3.0%, whereas in PEI it their marriage rate dropped by almost 8%
What does this all mean? Are we running away from Marriage, and will all live on communes with communal spouses shared by all? THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!! Whoops, sorry, forgot my Prozac there for a minute.
Who is getting married? Not sure, could be that the increase in Ontario could be from the Same Sex Marriages? Why do folks get married now? Religious reasons, maybe, but in terms of the law, marriage “the concept” is not needed for a union between people any more. If you live with someone for more than 2 years, you are viewed as “married” in terms of taxes, child support and dissolution of unions, so why are folks getting married? I think I am asking that in a rhetorical fashion. I am married, and I think it’s a good thing, but what do you think?
The “Marriage Strike” is underway. Enlightened males know the cases that matter in Canadian family law. Hartshorne vs. Hartshorne, Leskun vs. Leskun, and Beblow vs. Peters are good starting points.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.