Why Donna Irving won't marry you

Sorry, but Donna Irving isn't going to marry you.

Not this year, anyway.

Next year, maybe.

Irving (shown with Mayor John Rowswell in her usual spot at City Council meetings) is Sault Ste. Marie's City Clerk.

Ever since last September, a change in provincial regulations has authorized Donna and other municipal clerks across Ontario to solemnize civil marriages.

The job, however, involves a lot more than just paperwork.

Same-sex marriage

"There are a number of obligations that the municipal official must meet in order to successfully solemnize civil marriages," Irving points out.

For example, she says, you have to know all about Ontario's Marriage Act and how to apply it in delicate situations such as underage marriage and same-sex marriage.

You have to know how to handle people who might be under physicial or mental duress.

Or folk wanting to get hitched while they're whacked out on booze or drugs.

The City's allowed to charge people to have Irving marry them.

No politicians allowed

And Donna doesn't have to do it all herself - she's allowed to delegate the job to anyone she wishes.

Except for the mayor and City councillors, whom the law considers not quite up to the task.

This week, City Council decided not to wade into the civil-marriage quagmire.

At least, not this year.

Before the changes came into effect last September, only judges, marriage commissioners and justices of the peace were allowed to solemnize civil marriages.

Local judges, justices of the peace won't do it

But at the Sault Ste. Marie Court House, no judge or justice of the peace will currently do the job for you.

The other option for couples who've obtained a marriage licence is to exchange their vows before before a registered member of the clergy.

In Sault Ste. Marie, there are two members of the clergy who perform interdenominational services, and two individuals who preside over civil marriages, one of whom is willing to perform same-sex marriages.

Business cards for all four individuals are available at the reception desk in the City Clerk's office, where people go to get their marriage licences.

They cost $100 each.

Need currently being met

"We estimate that 30 percent of couples that obtain their marriage licence at the Clerk's office consider having their marriage ceremony performed by one of these individuals," Irving says.

Each year, her office issues an average of 375 marriage licences, half of them during the summer months.

And Irving believes the needs of people seeking civil marriages are currently being met without her getting into the business.

This week, City Council decided against authorizing the City Clerk to solemnize marriages.

Issue may be revisited next year

The City will track the local demand for this service throughout 2005, however.

And Irving will report back to Council in one year's time so the issue can be reconsidered, if City Councillors decide to do so.