Submissions

This submission focusses on the implications of Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy) (“Bill C-6”) to the rights and freedoms of Canadians guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter”).
While we agree that the Criminal Code should prohibit force, coercion and abuse in relation to attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, Bill C-6 is overbroad and dangerous and will likely cause children, adolescents and adults irreparable harm. Bill C-6 purports to create five Criminal Code offences related to “conversion therapy.” Consequently, its definition of “conversion therapy” is extremely important, driving concerns about whether Bill C-6 complies with the Charter. Unfortunately, Bill C-6’s definition of “conversion therapy” does not specifically target abusive and coercive practices that Canadians would associate with that term. Rather, Bill C-6 contains a dangerously expansive definition of “conversion therapy,” resulting in criminalizing legitimate medical, psychological and spiritual supports for people concerning their sexuality, their gender identity, or both.