ToBe.ca
Bill Siksay introduces bill to amend the Canadian Human Rights
Ottawa ? NDP MP Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas) re-introduced a bill in the House of Commons on June 19 that would add protections for transsexual and transgender Canadians to the Canadian Human Rights Act by adding gender identity or expression to the list of prohibited grounds for discrimination in the Act.
This Bill is essential as it addresses the lack of explicit protection for transsexual and transgender people in the Canadian Human Rights Act.
?Transgender and transsexual people are often victims of violence and face discrimination on a daily basis?, said Siksay, ?this is unacceptable and the inequity in protections for trans people must be immediately addressed by Canadian laws.?
?I believe the inclusion of this ground would send a strong message that people should not be discriminated against because of their gender identity or gender expression. Transgendered persons are often isolated from family and societal support; people in transition often lose their jobs, social support and family. Such discrimination is wrong and this intolerance must end.? said Siksay
The Bill follows the lead of the Northwest Territories, which was the first jurisdiction in Canada to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of gender identity in November of 2002. The Bill also fulfills the NDP?s commitment to work for equality for transgender and transsexual people.