Evidence of meeting #135 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was artistic.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
It would be incitement of hatred, which is a much higher threshold than what you're describing, as terrible as the speech that you're describing is. You and I would never speak that way—
Liberal
Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
That's not even [Inaudible—Editor] the government is proposing doing.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
My question to you is this: Should that type of speech be permitted? Is it okay to say those things?
Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
It is not okay to say those things, but it is legal to say those things in Canada.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Let's move on to a topic we didn't get to. I only have a couple of minutes left.
One of the challenges we have seen recently is with gender-affirming care and what kids, young people and others who are not children are seeing when it comes to their rights and their freedom of expression.
Do you agree or disagree with Conservative politicians who continue to push rhetoric and limit freedom of expression for transpeople?
Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
Are you asking me if politicians should be able to make statements on what type of medical care or...?
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Should politicians be able to regulate what type of medical care, or what type of freedom people have to express their identity?
Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
That's not a freedom of expression issue. That's not an issue—
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Freedom of expression, when it comes to trans rights, is excluded. Is that what you're saying?
Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
That's not what I'm saying.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Should politicians be in a position to regulate the freedom of trans people or prevent the LGBTQ2S community from expressing who they are and seeking care and treatment to be able to be who they wish to be or who they are?
Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
Is that happening? Can you give me the example?
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Yes, absolutely. There have been positions in the Conservative Party, including at their last convention, to seek to ban children from accessing gender-affirming care. Do you agree or disagree with that?
Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
I maintain that this is not an expression issue. Depending on what you mean by gender-affirming care, there's a broad spectrum of what that could include. It could include surgery. It could include pronoun use. It could include pharmaceutical interventions.
Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
Surgery is not a freedom of expression issue. There could be a section 15 claim and that you can litigate.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
Thank you very much. We're at the four minute-plus.
Thank you, Mr. Noormohamed.
Thank you to the guests.
Ms. Van Geyn, thank you, and thank you to Mr. Ge along with Ms. Barraband.
Thank you for coming today, Mr. Rainville.
I want to thank each and every one of you.
Is the committee in agreement that we'll adjourn this meeting?