OTTAWA – The federal government is preparing to pass a new, tougher bill today in its latest attempt to ban conversion therapy in Canada.
The law, if passed, would make activities designed to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity illegal.
The latest bill is expected to close some of the loopholes that existed in the final piece of legislation to deal with the issue, which did not become law in the last parliament session.
The bill ultimately failed to pass the Senate before the federal elections in September and died on warrant when Congress was dissolved before the vote.
It bans conversion therapy for children and adults who disagree with it, but the latest version of the bill is expected to ban the practice altogether.
Justice Minister David Lametti and Gender Equality Minister Marci Ien are expected to explain the intention to change the law today alongside conversion therapy survivors.
The bill is likely to win support from the NDP, the Bloc Quebecois, the Green Party and many Conservative MPs, including party leader Erin O’Toole. More than half of the Tory caucuses oppose previous government efforts to rein in the practice.
This Canadian Press report was first published on November 29, 2021.
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