Thanks, Madam Chair.
This amendment would list circumstances in which consent is not obtained in law for the purposes of the new offence that would prohibit causing a person to undergo conversion therapy without their consent, as was proposed by NDP-7. The listed circumstances in which consent would not be obtained in law are informed by the Criminal Code sexual assault provisions that vitiated consent in similar circumstances. However, the additional circumstances that are broader in scope are also listed.
Currently, the bill does not prevent adults from seeking out conversion therapy where such services are provided free of charge, because the evidence shows that some adults have sought out conversion therapy and reported positive results. Because this amendment would upset the balance that the bill seeks to achieve, I am not going to support it, Madam Chair.
Thank you.