Four new criminal offences go into effect today banning conversion therapy in Canada.
Conversion therapy is defined as any practice, service or treatment designed to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual, gender identity to cisgender, or gender expression to match the sex assigned at birth, or designed to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour, or gender expression that does not match the sex assigned at birth, or to repress non-cisgender gender identity.
The 4 new offences prohibit:
- causing another person to undergo conversion therapy (a hybrid offence with a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment on indictment)
- removing a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy abroad (a hybrid offence with a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment on indictment)
- profiting from conversion therapy (a hybrid offence with a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment on indictment)
- promoting or advertising conversion therapy (a hybrid offence with a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment on indictment)
The bill also authorizes courts to order the seizure of conversion therapy advertisements or their removal from computer systems or the Internet.
For more details, please click here.
The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, issued the following statement:
“This legislation represents an important milestone in the Government’s commitment to protecting the dignity and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and Two-Spirit communities, by criminalizing a shameful, unscientific, and destructive practice.
“Efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation to heterosexual, to change an individual’s gender identity to cisgender, or to change their gender expression to match the sex they were assigned at birth cause great harm. They are rooted in a wrong – and harmful – view that these facets of a human being can and should be changed to align with what has been perceived as ‘normal’ or ‘natural’. This further stigmatizes LGBTQ2 persons and harms their dignity and equality. With this new legislation, the Government is standing with LGBTQ2 communities and reaffirming its commitment to ensuring Canada is a place where everyone is free to be their true and authentic selves.”
“With these changes to the Criminal Code, Canada’s criminal laws on conversion therapy are among the most comprehensive in the world.”
See the statement from @MarciIen and I: https://t.co/ab4yPQJITw— David Lametti (@DavidLametti) December 9, 2021
The complete ban on so-called conversion therapies has received Royal Assent. This is a victory for Canada, in particular the bravery and the courage of the survivors who have been speaking out for years. This is what making history feels like. Thank you. 🏳️🌈
— David Lametti (@DavidLametti) December 8, 2021
#Diversity and #inclusion are among Canada’s greatest strengths. All Canadians must feel safe in their identities, and free to be their true selves. #FreetobeMe #LGTBQ2 #BeWhoYouAre #BillC4 @freetobeme_ca pic.twitter.com/AulaEPm8F4
— Justice Canada (@JusticeCanadaEN) December 8, 2021
Today, legislation to criminalize conversion therapy in Canada received Royal Assent and will become law on January 7, 2022. Read more here: https://t.co/iIFbpa1pbT
— Justice Canada (@JusticeCanadaEN) December 8, 2021