On June 17, 2003, Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced that the government would present a bill, which would allow same-sex couples equal rights to marry. A draft of what would become "Bill C-38" was released on July 17, 2003, by Liberal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon. Before introducing it into Parliament, the Federal Cabinet submitted the bill as a reference to the Supreme Court ("Reference Re Same-Sex Marriage"), asking the court to rule on whether limiting marriage to heterosexual couples was consistent with the "Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms" and if same-sex civil unions are an acceptable alternative.