Bill C-16 is intended to add the terms "gender identity" and "gender expression" to the Canadian Human Rights Act. The Bill also "amends the Criminal Code to extend the protection against hate propaganda set out in that Act to any section of the public that is distinguished by gender identity or expression," leading many to believe it will lead to a severe restriction of open public discourse on this topic once the bill is passed. Forty Conservative members of parliament (MPs) have voted against passing this bill on to the Senate after its second reading in the fall of 2016. At the time of writing, it was at its second reading in the Senate. It would become law if approved by the Senate at its third reading.
The bill has been criticized because it is said to be unnecessary (transsexuals are already protected against discrimination under the current Human Rights Act) and violates the conscience of many Canadians by imposing the government's views by law. The following four key issues with this bill are submitted for due consideration by our lawgivers and all others.
