The federal justice minister says the government will change the law to ensure gay couples from abroad who marry in Canada will have their unions recognized here.

Rob Nicholson says it's the government's view that these marriages "should be valid."

Doubts were raised about the validity of thousands of marriages conducted in Canada for same-sex couples from the United States and elsewhere following a federal twist in a Charter of Rights case launched in Ontario by two foreign women seeking a divorce.

A legal brief filed by federal lawyers denies the women are even legally married.

Critics accused Stephen Harper's Conservative government of seeking to rewrite the rules on gay marriage to suit its right-wing agenda.

Nicholson, who made the comments during a speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto, said the "confusion and pain resulting from this gap" is unfair to those affected.