Health committee  To add to that, the U.K. also started a national action plan to address inequality among LGBT people in the United Kingdom. Preceding that was a national survey of LGBT people that they conducted, I think, from the Department for Work and Pensions. It was a voluntary survey sent

Health committee  I can start. I think part of what we hear anecdotally is that many people who work in the school system are scared themselves to bring up the issue. Therefore, there has to be some kind of protection for teachers and people who work in the education system, to be able to disclos

Health committee  One of our recommendations is on the accessible Canada act, Bill C-81, just to make sure that it incorporates measures to address barriers that disproportionately impact members of the community. That comes with the requirement that health care colleges have frameworks in place t

Health committee  I haven't personally met with him, but Egale has, on an extensive level.

Health committee  Well I think as part of the national housing strategy, there are a few streams in there that can do targeted homeless initiatives that support LGBTQI2S youth. Supporting infrastructure would be key. I think that would be one large thing. One of the youth at our centre had mentio

Health committee  No. It's basically having a room that enables support for gender non-conforming and trans youth, so they don't have to be put in isolation. That's an infrastructure issue, and I think that goes into part of the strategy to support shelters that provide services specifically to

Health committee  We've noticed a lot of gaps in service between rural and urban organizations. Indeed, with any strategy—

Health committee  If there's any type of capacity building that the federal government could support, that would be of assistance. For instance, for seniors organizations, at Egale we're trying to link them together because there are a lot of organizations throughout the country doing different wo

Health committee  I would also like to add something to that. In a survey that Egale did of both service providers and older people, the top concern among both of them was the fear of having queer and trans seniors going back into the closet. As service providers we're concerned as well. That was

Health committee  From what I understand, there are studies being done to confirm the safety of it. I understand that there's already data that exists. There is no scientific evidence.

Health committee  I agree with that.

Health committee  The first thing is addressing the Criminal Code, which has the exception in section 268 that enables that to occur. The initial step, we think, aside from the consultation, is amending that Criminal Code element.

Health committee  Do you mean a change in the institutions themselves?

Health committee  I think there are changes for sure. I think the present fear is still.... I don't know if that's changed. Perhaps what people actually experience especially as they age.... When they are worried about losing their autonomy and decision-making abilities, the fear overrides any k

Health committee  At Egale the acronym we use is LGBTQI2S, to include intersex.