[JURIST] Canadian lawmakers will extend their current session into the summer to push through the contentious Civil Marriage Act [text], which would legalize same-sex marriage across Canada. Government Liberals thwarted the plan of opposition Conservatives, who have staunchly opposed the bill, to end the session on a final budget vote next week. Instead, Liberals allied with the New Democratic Party [offical website] and forced a sudden budget vote late Thursday, which passed 152 to 147 and brought the same-sex marriage bill to the forefront. A majority of Canadians support same-sex marriage legislation. A New Brunswick judge ruled Thursday that the definition of civil marriage as between a man and a woman violated the rights of gay persons, and would have to be changed to "between two persons" [CBC News report]. That decision leaves Prince Edward Island., Alberta and the Northwest Territories as the only remaining Canadian jurisdictions that do not recognize same-sex marriage. AFP has more.