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WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Manitoba became the fourth Canadian province to legalize same-sex marriage when a judge Thursday declared the province's current definition of marriage unconstitutional.
Justice Douglas Yard's ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed last month by three couples, arguing that the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman was contrary to the provincial charter's equality provision.
Courts legalized gay marriage in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec in 2003 and in the Yukon territory in July.
Lobby groups say they expect the first same-sex wedding in Manitoba by the end of the week.