House of Commons Hansard #20 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was sexual.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
I have the honour to lay upon the table, pursuant to subsection 23(5) of the Auditor General Act, the 2020 fall reports of the interim commissioner of the environment and sustainable development to the House of Commons.
These reports are deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.
Joël Lightbound LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the annual report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator for 2019-20, as required under section 192 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.
Industry, Science and TechnologyCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion.
I move:
That the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology be designated as the committee responsible for the statutory review of section 285 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
This being a hybrid sitting of the House, for the sake of clarity, I will ask for only those who are opposed to the request to express their disagreement.
Accordingly, all those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay. Hearing none, it is agreed.
The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay. There being no dissenting voices, I declare the motion carried.
(Motion agreed to)
Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have a second motion. There have been discussions among the parties, and I suspect if you were to canvass the House you would find unanimous consent for the following motion.
I move:
That the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development be designated as the committee responsible for the statutory review of section 343 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
This being a hybrid sitting of the House, for the sake of clarity, I will only ask those who are opposed to the request to express their disagreement. Accordingly, all those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.
The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed will please say nay. There being no dissenting voice, I declare the motion carried.
(Motion agreed to)
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, the second petition, signed by hundreds of Canadians, calls on the government to create a national strategy on palliative care. This would ensure that all Canadians have access to high-quality palliative care until the end of their lives and that Canadians are comfortable at the time of their death. Canadians who signed this petition would like the government to establish a national palliative care strategy.
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, the third petition is from Canadians across Canada who are calling on the House of Commons to protect the conscience rights of physicians and health care institutions. They recognize that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects freedom of conscience and religion. They also note that the Canadian Medical Association has confirmed conscience rights do not interfere with access to health care.
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, the fourth petition is signed by Canadians across the country who are concerned about what has been shown in the CBC exposé called It's a Girl. The petitioners highlight that over two million girls worldwide are missing because of gendercide and that the gender imbalance crisis is leading to an increase in violence and the trafficking of women and girls. They point out that in Canada, 92% of Canadians are opposed to gender-selective abortions. The petitioners are looking for the government and the House to pass the gender selection bill soon.
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, the last petition I would like to present highlights the plight of the Uighurs in China. It is calling for the House and the Government of Canada to recognize the genocide that is being perpetrated against the Uighur population in China and for the Government of Canada to use the Magnitsky act to end this horrible atrocity.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
I remind all hon. members to be concise when presenting petitions, and I compliment the hon. member for Peace River—Westlock for doing an exemplary job of that. That was very good.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
The House resumed from October 26 consideration of the motion that Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I continue with my comments from yesterday.
After listening to the debate yesterday, I wanted to highlight a couple of important points that were made. I believe the most important one is that people should feel free to be who they are. The consequences of societal pressures on people to conform to something they are not causes a great deal of stress and anxiety that leads to some very severe consequences. We heard about some of those consequences yesterday. The most extreme of these, of course, which is a sad reality, is that some people will ultimately commit suicide. This is not to mention the many other things that will take place as a result of society and attitudes that really need to change.
This is not to say we have not made progress. I am 58 years old, and in my generation there has been a great deal of change over the years. I am encouraged by that. Yesterday one of my colleagues said that we want to make Canada the safest place to fall in love, and that speaks of Canada's rich diversity. Diversity goes far beyond our wonderful ethnic diversity. It should incorporate all aspects of the human being and our society in general, and we should be very proud of it.
As I have indicated, I truly believe in Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms and how important our standing in the world is regarding the degree to which we recognize the importance of freedom. I am therefore encouraged to see this legislation. What I found really encouraging yesterday, in listening to discussions on the issues of conversion therapy, is that it seems everyone inside the House opposes it and sees the type of harm it causes in society. A number of members have raised issues and wanted some clarification, but on principle, the House appears to be unanimous in its thinking regarding the dangers of conversion therapy. I hope we will see unanimous support for this legislation, because I believe it is worth being supported by all members of this chamber.
I will be specific with what the legislation would criminalize. We should all note this. It would criminalize causing a person under the age of 18, a minor, to undergo conversion therapy; removing a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy abroad; causing a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will; receiving financial or other material benefits from the provision of conversion therapy; and advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy. The essence of what this bill would do is protect minors from conversion therapy regardless of whether it is provided within or outside of Canada, protect adults who are vulnerable to being forced to undergo conversion therapy and protect Canadians from the commercialization of conversion therapy.
I see this as a positive step forward, and I want to reflect on some of the comments I made yesterday, and already this morning, on the degree to which things have changed.
I can recall my school days quite vividly, and I had no sense of what “gay” was. It was not even talked about in school. I had no sense, in terms of any type of behaviour, of what was being perceived or pushed on from the norms of society. It was not until the latter years of high school I started to get a sense there was a part of life that I was not privy to, or that was frowned upon.
When I went into the Canadian Forces, I really started to see discrimination against people who were gay, and the negative impacts of being gay. I suspect I do not need to cite specific examples for people to understand some of the things I am implying with that statement.
Once I entered the political realm in the mid-eighties, things were taking place that were actually fairly encouraging. For example, the Pride parade in Winnipeg was established in 1987. It was not meant to be a Pride parade, per se, but it was a gathering of people with respect to an action from the Manitoba legislature. The action would have included sexual orientation as part of the Manitoba Human Rights Code. Hundreds of people were gathering, either to protest the fact that it did not pass or to celebrate the fact it did pass. It turned into a parade. That was really significant back in the eighties.
Fast-forwarding 25 years, it is really encouraging to look at the Manitoba legislature. Located in downtown Winnipeg in a beautiful building, the chamber, with its horseshoe shape, is one of the finest debating chambers in Canada and possibly even North America. Huge Roman heritage pillars are at the very front of the building. It has a beautiful lawn. About 25 years after that first Pride parade, we saw a celebration and the different colours of the rainbow shining up the pillars. We recognized just how far we have come. It was part of a week of Pride celebrations.
We need to think of the impact that has on our community. It is very difficult for us to comprehend the pressures people are under when hiding their feelings. Because of my upbringing, it is very hard for someone like me to imagine that. I can only attempt to understand the difficulty of young people, in particular, dealing with a very difficult situation in their school, home or work lives. The least I can do is to encourage that freedom where I can. Bill C-6 is a good example. It sends a positive message, but the work is not done. We can still do so much more.
The other thing I am very proud of is the fact that Glen Murray was the first openly gay mayor of a major urban centre in Canada: my home city of Winnipeg.
I thank Glen Murray and Randy Boissonnault from the Liberal caucus, both people I have known over the years who have been such strong advocates, and my daughter to a certain degree, for making sure I am sensitive and have a better, more comprehensive understanding of an issue that is important to all of us.
Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Madam Speaker, through you to my colleague across the way, I have a couple of quick points.
First, he mentioned at the start of his speech that he was confused as to whether he was 57 or 58 years old. I would appreciate that clarification.
I would like to note that I learned something new about him, which is that he served in the Canadian Armed Forces in the past. We will have that discussion.
Some of the previous members spoke about potential amendments to the bill and what they would like to see. I would like to state that conversion therapy is wrong and should be banned, but the Justice website states:
These new offences would not criminalise private conversations in which personal views on sexual orientation, sexual feelings or gender identity are expressed such as where teachers, school counsellors, pastoral counsellors, faith leaders, doctors, mental health professionals, friends or family members provide affirming support to persons struggling with their sexual orientation, sexual feelings, or gender identity.
Does the member have a concern that anything in that statement would prevent it from being included in this legislation?
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, on the age front, January 22, 1962, at St. Boniface Hospital, was a very special moment for my parents. I will let the member do the math.
The member brings forward a very reasonable question. From statements made by the minister, I believe that once the bill goes to committee we, as a government, are open to the possibility of making some changes working with opposition members. All I ask members of all political parties to recognize is the immense amount of consultation and work that was done to bring the legislation we have today in its current form.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Madam Speaker, the member and I are both of the same age group. I remember, when I was a teenager, my queer friends were expelled from their families. It was common that if they came out to their parents, many of those young people were told they were not welcome in their own homes. I think of that because my mother goes to mass every single day, but in our home my parents always made sure that the dinner table was set for those who had been kicked out of their own families and had no place else. When we were teenagers, my father told us who we love is who we love, and that is what we must always remember. I think of how, with the young generation today and my daughter's friends, being gay or queer is not an issue. It is considered okay. We have come a long way, but we have not come far enough. I think banning conversion therapy is a huge step we have to take as a nation, to say that we will not go back and undermine the rights of people to be who they are. I want to commend my colleague for his speech.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, it is important for us to recognize how things have changed and why it is so important that we continue to move forward. The very first time I had an appreciation of how society needed to change was in the early eighties, when I first heard the phrase “gay bashing.” From what I can recall, it had taken place behind the Manitoba legislature. Although I would have been in my teens or early twenties, that is when I first became aware of it. Other families were possibly far more progressive than mine, which I appreciate in one sense. That is why it is so important for me to share my thoughts with my family, and my daughter Cindy in particular is probably now even further advanced on the issue than I am.
Jenica Atwin Green Fredericton, NB
Madam Speaker, we are talking about removing something from our society that can create harm.
I would also like to hear the parliamentary secretary's thoughts around some of the ways we need to improve investing in services and supports: wrap-around care. I am thinking about Clinic 554 in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Across the country there are things we need to do to ensure that trans health care is something we protect and invest in, as an example. I am just wondering what the member thinks about that as a conversation.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, I absolutely think it is important that, as a government, we work with other jurisdictions and do not underestimate the value of non-profit organizations that are advocacy groups and provide direct services. I know at least two or three websites have all sorts of wonderful resources.
There is so much more there now than a decade ago. However, there is still a need for governments to work together to ensure there is that ultimate freedom for people to be who they are.
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague for his speech.
Yesterday, reference was made to people who get sex changes or other such medical procedures. It was said that we should be asking ourselves some questions in that regard. Personally, I think that is confusing the issue, since the main purpose of the bill currently before us is to protect children from unacceptable treatment.
I would like to hear what my colleague has to say about that.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, I took the time to specifically read what the bill does. It is important because it is a significant step in terms of criminalizing conversion therapy. It is something I believe the vast majority of Canadians would support, because it is long overdue.
The member made reference to medical procedures. I am not quite as comfortable talking about that, because I do not know the details offhand.