Canadians believe in freedom from discrimination. This includes people having the right to live their lives without being discriminated against for their race, creed, ethnic background, political beliefs, or sexual orientation. A majority of Canadians applaud the fact that Canada was one of the first countries to sanction same-sex marriage. Existing legislation and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms do prohibit discrimination. However, we must be vigilant to ensure these laws are respected in practice and delivery.
In 1996, the Green Party of Canada became the first federal party to officially support the inclusion of same-sex couples in civil marriage, and we are pleased that this issue is now settled. However, much prejudice and discrimination remains, and trans-gendered people are rarely even considered when laws and public policies are created.
Our vision is of a world free from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, a world in which difference is accepted and even celebrated.
Green Party MPs will:
- Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to explicitly include gender identity and gender expression as protected grounds of discrimination;
- Amend the Criminal Code to include gender identity and gender expression in the hate sentencing and hate propaganda provisions;
- Repeal s.159 of the Criminal Code;
- Support public education to end prejudice and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity;
- End the targeting by Canada Customs of LGBT bookstores and other LGBT businesses;
- Ensure Canada advocates internationally for an end to state-sanctioned discrimination and violence against LGBT people.