~ The Province - B.C.
Svend vows to
        
sue if pension
reform excluded
By Adrienne Tanner
Staff Reporter
Svend Robinson hadn't thought much about death, let alone pension benefits, until a near-fatal hiking accident last year.
Recovering, his first thoughts were for his 26-year-old partner Max Riveron.
Had Robinson died, Riveron would not have been able to collect his pension benefits because the federal government does not consider same-sex couples spouses.
"I felt angry that the law of Canada basically views gay and lesbian relationships as being invisible," Robinson said yesterdayThis has got to change "

Curtis Lord - for The Province
Svend Robinson (above),
recuperating here with partner Max Riveron after his fall down a cliff,
says pension benefits for gays and lesbians is a matter of fairness.
21 year age difference? Pedophilia?

The 47-year-old, MP for Burnaby-Douglas said he'll sue his federal employer if today's budget does not make some concessions for same-sex couples.
"For me it's fundamentally an issue of fairness," He said. "Gays and lesbians contribute to pension plans. It's outrageous if at the end of the day your partner dies and you're left without any support."
Most provincial governments, including B.C., and many private companies have voluntarily extended a range of benefits to employees in same-sex relationships.
Pension benefits, however, are usually excluded because the Pension Act and Income Tax Act do not consider same-sex couples to lie spouses, Same-sex couples, therefore, cannot collect Canada Pension Plan benefits and may not transfer registered retirement savings plans between each other to maximize tax benefits.
Polls suggest the majority of Canadians support equal benefits for same-sex couples. But there's a strong, vocal opposition.
Many Reform MI's are in the No camp, said Dick Harris, Prince George Reform MP and finance critic.
The law of Canada defines couples as a union between men and women, he said. *Call me old-fashioned, but I still support that definition of a marriage."

A letter to Max


Svend Robinson recently penned this valentine to his partner Max Riveron. It was printed In the National Post just before Valentine's Day.

Dearest Maximito,
Who would have ever imagined that Conrad Black would offer me the opportunity to publicly reaffirm my love and commitment to you, papito?
Our years together have given me so much - laughter, joy, challenge adventure, pleasure, support, friendship and powerful love.
In the turbulent waters of my life, you are an anchor. I look forward to sharing the
rest of our lives together, good times and bad, as our love grows ever stronger.
Walking in Stanley Park, frolicking on the soft sands of Cayo Largo, or watching the sun sink over Trincomali Channel ... may we always be best friends.
Yo te quiero mucho, loquito queento.
Sven

Eric Lowther, Reform's family-issues critic, said that before the laws change, the government should recognize the importance of heterosexual marriage as a "stable environment that's healthy for bringing up children."
Despite the opposition, rumours that the federal government is about to relent are making the rounds at Parliament Hill.
But so far there's nothing substantial backing the whispers, said a member of a Toronto group challenging the legality of all 58 federal statutes which do not define sex couples as spouses.
"if [today] is the big day, then I'm out of the loop," said Bob Gallagher, a board member of Foundation for Equal Families



As far as Gallagher knows, lawyers for I both sides are still meeting to set a procedure and timing for the case. Murray Warren, a Lower Mainland gay rights activist, said it's time homosexual couples were given equal treatment. It's unfair, he said, that he pays taxes, and into CPP and RRSPs, yet Canadian laws don't recognize his 28-year relationship.

 I want much to you, loquito queento.