PETITION TO THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE OF QUÉBEC
We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of The Honourable Bertrand St-Arnaud, the Minister of Justice of Québec, to the following:
Section 393 of the Civil Code of Quebec states that women and men in Quebec must exercise their civil rights under their maiden name.
Name change is a basic legal act that is recognized in practically all legal systems to allow an individual the opportunity to adopt a name other than the name given at birth, marriage, or adoption.
It is a fundamental human right blatantly ignored by Section 393 of the Civil Code of Quebec.
Today, a married woman who lives in Quebec is FORCED by law to retain her maiden name and her maiden name (i.e. her father's name!) is what defines her in all legal documents (health card, driver’s license, passport, credit card, etc.).
This rule applies to all spouses domiciled in Quebec, even if they were married outside Quebec. Today in Quebec, married women are not forced and expected to go by their married names anymore, but forced to keep their maiden names.
If some women do not wish to change their names and choose to keep for the rest of their lives their maiden ones, it is their choice and the law must protect this choice. But other women or men who desire to use their spouse's surname should also be given the choice to choose which name they wish to officially use upon their marriage.
The law should legitimize both options.
A common surname symbolizes strength, bondage, kinship. Also, in the case of immigrant women who marry Quebecers, changing the surname would give them a better chance to feel integrated in this society.
Married men are also deprived of their freedom of choice, but I think that the issue affects more women than men as few men wish to take their wife's surname.
THEREFORE, we, the petitioners, call upon the Minister of Justice of Québec to amend Section 393 of the Civil Code of Quebec that states that women and men in Quebec must exercise their civil rights under their maiden name.
We are not asking for anything that is not known or used in the rest of Canada. We are not asking for the enactment of an utterly foreign, non-western concept in the body of the Canadian law or society.
We are asking that women and men who live in Quebec have the same rights as women and men in English Canada.
It is time to put an end to this diminishing and dictatorial law and give spouses in Quebec FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
Madi Lussier
Updates
June 22, 2015
I honestly never thought this would reach two hundred and fifty signatures. It is truly humbling to see so many people agree that this is a change worth making.
Reached 250 supporters
June 21, 2015
April 1, 2013
I really never thought this would reach one hundred signatures when I first started. This is entirely due to the people who took a moment to look at this issue and decide it was worth their time.
Reached 100 supporters
April 1, 2013
March 29, 2013
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have joined this effort. This momentum belongs entirely to your willingness to speak up for fairness in our laws. If you can help get this link in front of a few more people today, we might finally cross that next milestone together.
123 Comments
I’m signing this petition in full agreement as my marriage surname (as shown on my foreign passport when entering Quebec) has been immediately changed to my father’s surname upon arrival in Quebec, which generated a litany of problems for me.
I would like to have the same last name as my husband and children. I am the only family member who does not have the same last name. I am constantly questioned when traveling abroad, alone with my child. I want to feel like a family unit
My wife's last name was from a detestable father she wishes not to be reminded of and yet she could not even change it to my names because of these dumb rules. Even if we had married in Ontario, she would have been forced to change back. Some freedom *shakes my head*
I was married in 1974 and so I was able to use my married name for many things including my license and passport. However, anything to do with the medical system I have to use my maiden name. It's confusing to have your husband and kids all with a different name than you.
The thought behind this "progressive", "feminist" law was that taking your husband's surname insinuated that you are his property. Using that stream of thought, am I my father's property? As a feminist I loath this ludicrous law that encroaches on my right to choose my surname.
Freedom of choice is part of the Canadian democracy. No kings in Canada. I proudly share my spouses family name.
Ya this law is so stupid..
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PETITION TO THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE OF QUÉBEC
We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of The Honourable Bertrand St-Arnaud, the Minister of Justice of Québec, to the following:
Section 393 of the Civil Code of Quebec states that women and men in Quebec must exercise their civil rights under their maiden name.
Name change is a basic legal act that is recognized in practically all legal systems to allow an individual the opportunity to adopt a name other than the name given at birth, marriage, or adoption.
It is a fundamental human right blatantly ignored by Section 393 of the Civil Code of Quebec.
Today, a married woman who lives in Quebec is FORCED by law to retain her maiden name and her maiden name (i.e. her father's name!) is what defines her in all legal documents (health card, driver’s license, passport, credit card, etc.).
This rule applies to all spouses domiciled in Quebec, even if they were married outside Quebec. Today in Quebec, married women are not forced and expected to go by their married names anymore, but forced to keep their maiden names.
If some women do not wish to change their names and choose to keep for the rest of their lives their maiden ones, it is their choice and the law must protect this choice. But other women or men who desire to use their spouse's surname should also be given the choice to choose which name they wish to officially use upon their marriage.
The law should legitimize both options.
A common surname symbolizes strength, bondage, kinship. Also, in the case of immigrant women who marry Quebecers, changing the surname would give them a better chance to feel integrated in this society.
Married men are also deprived of their freedom of choice, but I think that the issue affects more women than men as few men wish to take their wife's surname.
THEREFORE, we, the petitioners, call upon the Minister of Justice of Québec to amend Section 393 of the Civil Code of Quebec that states that women and men in Quebec must exercise their civil rights under their maiden name.
We are not asking for anything that is not known or used in the rest of Canada. We are not asking for the enactment of an utterly foreign, non-western concept in the body of the Canadian law or society.
We are asking that women and men who live in Quebec have the same rights as women and men in English Canada.
It is time to put an end to this diminishing and dictatorial law and give spouses in Quebec FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
Madi Lussier
Updates
June 22, 2015
I honestly never thought this would reach two hundred and fifty signatures. It is truly humbling to see so many people agree that this is a change worth making.
Reached 250 supporters
June 21, 2015
April 1, 2013
I really never thought this would reach one hundred signatures when I first started. This is entirely due to the people who took a moment to look at this issue and decide it was worth their time.
Reached 100 supporters
April 1, 2013
March 29, 2013
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have joined this effort. This momentum belongs entirely to your willingness to speak up for fairness in our laws. If you can help get this link in front of a few more people today, we might finally cross that next milestone together.
123 Comments
I believe in the traditional way. A woman should have the family name of her husband. However, I am also for the freedom of choice in which a woman chooses to keep her maiden name once married. Legitimize both options please.
I’m signing this petition in full agreement as my marriage surname (as shown on my foreign passport when entering Quebec) has been immediately changed to my father’s surname upon arrival in Quebec, which generated a litany of problems for me.
I would like to have the same last name as my husband and children. I am the only family member who does not have the same last name. I am constantly questioned when traveling abroad, alone with my child. I want to feel like a family unit
My wife's last name was from a detestable father she wishes not to be reminded of and yet she could not even change it to my names because of these dumb rules. Even if we had married in Ontario, she would have been forced to change back. Some freedom *shakes my head*
I was married in 1974 and so I was able to use my married name for many things including my license and passport. However, anything to do with the medical system I have to use my maiden name. It's confusing to have your husband and kids all with a different name than you.
The thought behind this "progressive", "feminist" law was that taking your husband's surname insinuated that you are his property. Using that stream of thought, am I my father's property? As a feminist I loath this ludicrous law that encroaches on my right to choose my surname.
Freedom of choice is part of the Canadian democracy. No kings in Canada. I proudly share my spouses family name.
Ya this law is so stupid..
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I believe in the traditional way. A woman should have the family name of her husband. However, I am also for the freedom of choice in which a woman chooses to keep her maiden name once married. Legitimize both options please.