OTTAWA – The Government of Canada is taking action to apologize for the injustices experienced by LGBTQ2 individuals, their families, partners, and communities as a result of federal legislation, policies, and programs.
Today, Member of Parliament Randy Boissonnault, special advisor to the prime minister on LGBTQ2 issues, announced the creation of an advisory council to assist in the formulation of an inclusive and meaningful apology directed at Canadians harmed by these policies.
Mr. Boissonnault will co-chair the advisory council along with Madame Marie-Laure Leclercq, a strong voice for transgender rights in Quebec and across Canada.
The advisory council is composed of 11 individuals from across the country whose perspectives are informed by their lived experience, knowledge, expertise, and links to LGBTQ2 communities.
“Our government believes in the equality and dignity of all Canadians regardless of whom they love or how they express who they are. To move forward in our fight against intolerance we must acknowledge past harms done to the LGBTQ2 community,” said Boissonnault.
Quick Facts
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- Bill C-16, which received Royal Assent in June, adds gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act. It also extends hate crimes protection to include offences motivated by prejudice, bias, or hate based on gender identity or expression.
- The Government of Canada has also introduced measures to repeal Section 159 of the Criminal Code to end its discriminatory impact on consensual same sex sexual activity.
