If the Canadian government were truly liberal, they would stop recognizing US heterosexual couples married by a religious organization (in a church or mosque) who do not have a state/civil union.

I grew up during communism, and while church marriages were allowed (Orthodox, Catholic, Moslem, etc.) these had no legal value for the state. You HAD to also conclude a so called 'civil ceremony', which was the only document that had validity for state authorities.

As secular countries, the US and Canada ought to move to a 'civil-union' only system for recognizing marriage for the purposes of travel, immigration, taxation, pension and healthcare benefits, etc. There are way too many wacko religions out there to rely upon their holy men (and women!?) to decide what is marriage and what isn't.