The decision deems Canadian law on traditional marriage unconstitutional and was effective immediately.
"The existing common-law definition of marriage violates the couple's equality rights on the basis of sexual orientation under (the charter)," the 61-page written ruling said.
The Appeal Court also declared Ottawa's definition invalid and demanded it be immediately changed to refer to "two persons" instead of "one man and one woman." It ordered the city clerk to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples seeking a legal union.
