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“We cannot go back in time and prevent the traumas that occurred to conversion therapy survivors, but we can ensure that no child in Canada is subjected to conversion therapy ever again.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
Ottawa (21 July 2021) — Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), may die in the Senate before becoming law.
Bill C-6 explained
Bill C-6 would amend the Criminal Code to prohibit certain activities that relate to “conversion therapy”, which is defined as practices, treatment or services designed to change an individual’s sexual orientation to heterosexual or gender identity to cisgender or to reduce non-heterosexual sexual attraction or sexual behaviour. Specifically, the Bill would enact new offences to prohibit:
- causing an individual to undergo conversion therapy against their will;
- causing a child to undergo conversion therapy;
- removing a child from Canada to undergo conversion therapy abroad;
- receiving a financial or other material benefit from the provision of conversion therapy; and
- advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy.
The Bill would also authorize courts to order the seizure and forfeiture of advertisements for conversion therapy or order their removal from computer systems (“take-down provisions”).
Bill C-6 was sent to the Senate on June 29 and is currently waiting further study by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. However, as rumours of a late summer or early fall election grow more likely, Bill C-6 may die before the Senate returns from summer break.
Senate calendar wide open
There is no rule stating that the Senate must adjourn for the summer at a specific time. Indeed, a handful of committee meetings are scheduled in July. The calendar remains wide open in August and September before the Senate is set to reconvene on September 21.
Given how much time is available, it seems inconceivable that the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee would not do everything in their power to complete their review as soon as possible. This would allow for the Speaker of the Senate to recall the Senate and convene a vote on Bill C-6 before an election is called, as the Speaker has the ability to recall the Senate if the public interest so requires.
NUPGE sends letters to the Senate calling for action on Bill C-6
Earlier this week Larry Brown, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) sent two letters: one to the Speaker of the Senate, George Furey, and a second letter to the chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Mobina Jaffer, regarding Bill C-6. In his letters, Brown urged the Senators to take action and get Bill C-6 to the floor as soon as possible.
“It’s in the best interest of the public to pass Bill C-6,” said Burt Blundon, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer. “We have been pushing for the government to ban conversion therapy since 2019. It's unacceptable to let the bill die in its final stages.”
“We cannot go back in time and prevent the traumas that occurred to conversion therapy survivors,” said Brown, “but we can ensure that no child in Canada is subjected to conversion therapy ever again. Bill C-6 must be passed.”