Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands)
2021-05-31 12:51 [p.7606]

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague from Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke for his championing of the rights of the LGBTQ+ two-spirit community. I am horrified as he shares with us the abuse he has experienced for standing up for trans rights.

The only problem I have with Bill C-6 is why we call a practice that is clearly torture something called “ therapy”. Is it not time to stop calling residential schools “schools” and call them what they were? Is it not time to call what is called “ conversion therapy” abuse and torture?

Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke)
2021-05-31 12:52 [p.7606]

Madam Speaker, I could not agree with the member more. I thank her, since I ran out of time in my speech, for drawing the parallel to what happened at residential schools. I, of course, share the horror and the need for us to act resolutely on the news that we heard from Kamloops this week.

All the professional studies show that conversion therapy results in depression, self-harm, suicide attempts and many actual deaths by suicide. There is no science behind this practice, there is no reason to continue to call it therapy and that is one of the reasons it should be banned.

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Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands)
2020-10-26 12:28 [p.1204]

Madam Speaker, as the hon. member for Fredericton has already put on the record, the Green Party is also very much in support of a complete ban on conversion therapy. I join the member for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke in thanking the minister for bringing forward Bill C-6.

How open will the government be to amendments that, without violating the charter considerations, provide moves toward a more complete ban on this monestrous practice? It cannot be called therapy; it is so destructive.

Hon. David Lametti (LaSalle—Émard—Verdun)
2020-10-26 12:28 [p.1204]

Madam Speaker, I agree that one ought to put therapy in quotation marks when discussing this practice. I agree it is a horrific practice.
As I have just assured the member for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, I am open to all good faith amendments that seek to clarify or work within the confines of the charter to extend the parameters of the legislation.

We want Canada to be leaders on this and therefore I am willing to work with members across the aisle to make it better.

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