Alberta Premier Ralph Klein has suggested that his province may get out of the marriage business altogether in the wake of the passage of same-sex marriage legislation in the House of Commons Tuesday.

Eight members of the provincial legislature, including Justice Minister Ron Stevens, met Wednesday morning to decide how to continue the fight against same-sex marriage.

But Klein acknowledged Tuesday that he had few options.

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. (File photo)
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. (File photo)

''There are no legal weapons. There's nothing left in the arsenal,'' Klein said. ''We're out on a lurch.''

Klein repeated that using the notwithstanding clause is not an option because the definition of marriage falls under federal jurisdiction, and the province can't affect that.

Instead, Klein proposed that the province might withdraw from sanctioning marriages and just recognize civil unions, leaving marriage to religious orders.

''We simply wouldn't be involved in the solemnization of marriage,'' he said.

The Liberals' controversial same-sex marriage legislation passed final reading Tuesday night, sailing through in a 158-133 vote.

Supported by most members of the Liberals, the Bloc Québécois and the NDP, the legislation made Canada only the third country in the world, after the Netherlands and Belgium, to officially recognize same-sex marriage.

In an effort to appease those opposed to the legislation, amendments had been introduced to ensure no religious group or charitable organization would be forced to accept same-sex marriage.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said if his party forms the next government, the law will be revisited. He said he would hold a free vote for all MPs on the matter, rather than forcing cabinet ministers to vote with the government.

Harper made the promise one day after suggesting the adoption of the law lacked legitimacy because it relied on the support of the separatist Bloc Québécois.