for Canadians for Equal Marriage and Egale Canada welcomed the decision. A lawyer for the couples said, "As is now clear in Canadian law, the judge found that it is unconstitutional to exclude same-sex couples from civil marriage. This finding was supported by the ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada last week, who stated quite clearly that the Charter protects both equality rights and freedom of religion.", citing the recent reference question to the Supreme Court of Canada regarding the constitutionality of same-sex marriage in Canada. Some officiants, including mayors Claude Elliott of Gander and Jerry Dean of Botwood, said that they would refuse to officiate at such ceremonies. The Provincial Government warned its civil marriage commissioners, such as mayors or justices of the peace, that they must perform these marriages or resign, as the marriages are now legal. This mirrored an earlier move by the Manitoba Provincial Government. This was widely criticised by conservative and fundamentalist Christian groups. Desiree Dichmont, a marriage commissioner, resigned from her post following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the province, citing her religious beliefs. She later filed a complaint with the province's human rights commission arguing that she had been unfairly discriminated against because of her religion. The commission determined in 2015 that the province had been justified in terminating her appointment. Dichmont died in 2016, age 90, and lawyers representing her estate appealed the decision. In January 2021, Supreme Court Justice Vikas Khaladkar ruled in favour of the human rights commission and agreed that the Provincial Government had the right to require her to resign unless she agreed to perform marriages to all couples. Khaladkar ordered Dichmont's estate to pay costs to the province and the human rights commission. Gordon Young, an evangelical pastor of the First Assembly Church of St. John's, asked the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeals in February 2005 to allow him to appeal the ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. While Young had standing in the case because he was granted intervenor status, his appeal did not proceed. Provincial legislation In April 2002, the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly approved amendments to the Adoption Act to allow same-sex couples to adopt children jointly. In May 2009, the House of Assembly amended the Marriage Act by replacing references to "husband and wife" with the gender-neutral term "spouses". The legislation was given royal assent by Lieutenant Governor John