Despite being regarded as morally permissible and practiced by some religions, engaging in any form of polygamy is an indictable criminal offence punishable for an imprisonment term of not more than five years.

Can you go to jail for polygamy in Canada?

Section 293 of the Criminal Code of Canada explicitly bans polygamy and threatens offenders with a five-year prison term. Bigamy is named as a similarly serious crime in Section 290. There hasnt been a successful prosecution for polygamy in Canada for more than 60 years.

Is polygamy a crime in Canada?

Canada: All forms of polygamy, and some informal multiple sexual relationships, are illegal under section 293 of the Criminal Code. Bigamy is banned by section 290.

What is the punishment for bigamy in Canada?

Every one who commits bigamy is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to seven years imprisonment. 2. Every one who commits this offence after a previous conviction for a like offence shall be liable to fourteen years imprisonment.

Can you marry twice in Canada?

Its against the law to be married to more than 1 person at a time. You cant come to Canada with more than 1 spouse, even if you were married to more than 1 person in the past. You can only remarry if youre legally divorced or your spouse has died.

What happens if you marry a bigamist?

Bigamy results in an invalid marriage. This happens even when the person thought they were legally divorced. In the United States, same sex marriage is legal. These marriages are not immune from bigamy. If a same-sex couple gets married but one spouse is still married to another person, the second marriage is invalid.