Covid or not, marriage licences are available

Love is all powerful and it cannot be defeated even by the mighty Covid-19 which has laid low the governments and economy of the world.

It’s summer – and covid or not – marriage licences are available. However, in deference to coronavirus, they are by appointment only, according to Oshawa.

The City of Oshawa announced that it has resumed its marriage licence in-person application process at City Hall.

While all city facilities remain temporarily closed to the public to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, marriage licences are now being issued.

Couples are asked to complete the necessary paperwork in advance. Only one applicant is permitted to attend the appointment to complete the in-person application process and are reminded when at City Hall to follow health guidelines by maintaining physical distancing of at least six feet (two meters) from others, says the city.

The fee for a marriage licence is $125 (non-refundable), payable by MasterCard, Visa or American Express prior to attending the appointment. A marriage licence is valid for three months from the date of issue and can be used anywhere in Ontario. For more information, visit the City’s Marriage Licence web page.

Canada delays Divorce Act amendments due to pandemic

Meanwhile, Otttawa announced that divorce and separation are a reality for many, and ensuring that the family justice system can effectively respond to the needs of families in these situations is critical.

That is why David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the delay of the coming into force of changes to the Divorce Act, which was scheduled for July 1, 2020. Due to extraordinary circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the coming into force date has been deferred until March 1, 2021.

Many courts across the country are currently hearing only urgent family law matters, and governments are focused on addressing pandemic-related urgencies and priorities. All of this has made it impossible to undertake the necessary steps for implementation.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the operation of governments, courts and Canada’s family justice system. After consultation with the provinces and territories, we have determined that a delay in the coming into force of changes to the Divorce Act is necessary to ensure they have sufficient time to adjust their laws and regulations to reflect the legislative changes in the Divorce Act. We understand how important the changes to the Divorce Act are to Canadians affected by separation and divorce, especially to vulnerable family members. We are working hard with our partners to implement these changes,” said Lametti.