"canadian wedding"

Canada passed its same-sex marriage bill yesterday, one day before Spain did. (Less than that, given the time difference.)
We're now (barely) the 3rd country in the world (after Belgium & Netherlands) to permit it.

Was there some sort of undeclared race going on?
Was it one of those classic Olympic contests, where Canada squeaks by for a bronze finish, still fighting off the 4th-place contestant just to get onto the medal podium?

Is that why Paul Martin pushed it though on this timeline? for a gimmick?
Are we going to have signs at the border that say:
"Welcome to Canada. Please keep your religion to yourself and hey -- didja know? -- we're the 3rd country to permit same-sex marriage!"