could not marry in practice. Dover said, "We'll do it as quickly as we can. We didn't prepare beforehand because, if we had prepared and changed all the wording, then people would say 'Why did you do that when it hadn't passed?'" Complaints immediately arose charging that the delay imposed by the province was illegal and violated the legal rights of same-sex couples. In response to these complaints, the province reversed its position. The first same-sex couple to wed on Prince Edward Island were Dr. Chris Zarow and Constance Majeau on August 20, 2005 in Vernon Bridge, as reported by the Charlottetown Guardian. Reverend Barry King officiated at the ceremony. He said: "Today we celebrate the beginning of a journey for Connie and Chris. This journey is filled with joy because it's filled with love. Connie and Chris chose this path because they love each other." Provincial legislation In May 2008, provincial law was finally brought in line with the federal legislation. A bill amending the Marriage Act, the Adoption Act and several other acts regarding family law was passed by the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island and given royal assent by Lieutenant Governor Barbara Oliver Hagerman. The law replaced references to "husband and wife" with the gender-neutral term "spouses", and the Adoption Act was amended to allow married same-sex couples to adopt children jointly. The law took effect on 19 December 2009. Prince Edward Island legislation also recognises cohabitation agreements which can be entered into by two people who live together but are not married to each other. It is a written agreement recognised by the provincial Family Law Act that sets out rights and responsibilities for common-law partners. The agreement provides partners with some, but not all, of the rights and benefits of marriage. Common-law partners have the same rights to spousal support as married couples, and child support and custody. However, common-law couples are treated very different to married spouses with regards to inheritance and property rights. They have no right to inheritance if the partner were to die, and do not have the right to division of property or to stay in the common home upon separation or the death of the partner. Marriage statistics The 2016 Canadian census showed that there were 230 same-sex couples living in Prince Edward Island. Religious performance In July 2019, the synod of the Anglican Church of Canada passed