Canadian Government reintroduces legislation to make conversion therapy a criminal offence

Conversion Therapy is a barbaric practice used to convert members of the LGBT2Q to heterosexual practices

Diversity and inclusion are among Canada’s greatest strengths. Canadians must feel safe in their identities, and free to be their true selves. Today the Government of Canada made good on their promise to hold those accountable for practicing the barbaric act of conversion therapy in Canada to now be a criminal offence.

David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, reintroduced proposed legislative amendments to the Criminal Code. These amendments are the same as those proposed by Bill C-8 in the previous parliamentary session. If passed, this Bill will make Canada’s laws on conversion therapy the most progressive and comprehensive in the world.

The legislation proposes five new Criminal Code offences related to conversion therapy. These include:

• causing a minor to undergo conversion therapy
• removing a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy abroad
• causing a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will
• profiting from providing conversion therapy
• advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy

The legislation will also authorize courts to order the seizure of conversion therapy advertisements or to order their removal from computer systems or the Internet.

Conversion therapy aims to change an individual’s sexual orientation to heterosexual, to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviours, or to change an individual’s gender identity to match the sex they were assigned at birth. It harms and stigmatizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2) persons, undermines their dignity and negatively impacts their equality rights.

It reflects myths and stereotypes about LGBTQ2 persons, in particular, that sexual orientations other than heterosexual, and gender identities other than cisgender, can and should be changed. The practice can take various forms, including counselling and behavioural modification.

Criminal law reform is an important step toward protecting LGBTQ2 persons and promoting their rights, but more remains to be done. The Government of Canada is committed to working with provinces, territories, municipalities and stakeholders to ensure that Canada is a country where everyone – regardless of their gender expression, gender identity, or sexual orientation – can live in equality and freedom.

“Conversion therapy is a cruel practice that can lead to life-long trauma, particularly for young people. Our Government remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the dignity and equality rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirit Canadians, by criminalizing a practice that discriminates against and harms them.” David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

According to the interim results of the 2019-2020 Community-Based Research Centre Sex Now Survey, 1 in 5 sexual minority men have been subjected to sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression change efforts. The 2011-2012 results of the Survey also showed that lower-income, Indigenous and trans persons are disproportionately represented among those exposed to conversion therapy.

Under their responsibility for health-related matters, Ontario, Nova Scotia and PEI have enacted legislation specifying that conversion therapy is not an insured health service and banning health care professionals from providing treatment to minors unless they are capable of consenting. In March 2020, Yukon introduced legislation to ban conversion therapy and in September 2020, the Government of Quebec did as well. Other jurisdictions have implemented non-legislative measures, such as Manitoba, which issued a position statement indicating that it expects health professionals to ensure that conversion therapy is not practised in the province.

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