CANADA latest news

Prime Minister delivers apology to LGBTQ2 Canadians

November 28, 2017
Ottawa, Ontario

All Canadians deserve to feel safe and to have their most fundamental rights protected. But for decades, we failed countless individuals who had their lives and livelihoods shattered for simply being who they were or because of who they loved. That is why the Government of Canada is working to address systemic discrimination against people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirit (LGBTQ2).

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today delivered a formal apology in the House of Commons to individuals harmed by federal legislation, policies and practices that led to the oppression of and discrimination against LGBTQ2 people in Canada.

The Prime Minister apologized specifically for the historical unjust treatment of LGBTQ2 federal public servants, including those in the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP, and of LGBTQ2 Indigenous Peoples.

To address the wrongs experienced by those who were unfairly criminalized by unjust laws and actions, the Government of Canada today introduced legislation – Bill C-66, the Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act – that would put into place a process to permanently destroy the records of convictions for offences involving consensual sexual activity between same-sex partners that would be lawful today.  

The Government of Canada has also signed an Agreement-in-Principle to resolve the Todd Edward Ross, Martine Roy and Alida Satalic Class Action in a fair, compassionate, and respectful manner that promotes healing and reconciliation. The Agreement-in-Principle includes measures to support individual compensation and recognition, as well as additional initiatives to promote collective reconciliation and remembrance.

These are important steps to respond to the historical and ongoing inequality faced by Canada’s LGBTQ2 communities and a vital part of the Government of Canada’s effort to create a stronger, more diverse, and more inclusive society.

Quote

“It is our collective shame that Canadians who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or two-spirit were unjustly treated – fired from jobs, denied promotions, surveilled, arrested, convicted, and vindictively shamed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. People lost their livelihoods, their families, and, some, their lives. Today, we offer a long overdue apology to all those whom we, the Government of Canada, wronged. We are sorry. We hope by acknowledging our failings we can make the crucial progress LGBTQ2 people in Canada deserve. We will continue to support each other in our fight for equality because we know that Canada gets stronger every single day that we choose to embrace diversity.”
– The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• Historically, Canada unjustly convicted and imposed criminal records on people who engaged in consensual sexual activity with same-sex partners – sexual activity that would be lawful today. Many of these offences were prosecuted to target LGBTQ2 communities.
• From the 1950s to the early 1990s, the Canadian government undertook a systematic campaign of oppression against employees who were members, or suspected members, of LGBTQ2 communities. The campaign became known as “The Purge” and involved workers being fired, discharged, or intimidated into resigning.
• The actions announced today are part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to advance LGBTQ2 inclusion. We have also:
  • Named Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, as the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on LGBTQ2 issues, and established an LGBTQ2 Secretariat within the Privy Council Office to support government initiatives on LGBTQ2 issues.
  • Passed legislation – An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code – to protect Canadians from discrimination and hate crimes based on gender identity and gender expression and to affirm their equal status in Canadian society.
  • Introduced legislation – Bill C-39, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (unconstitutional provisions) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts – to eliminate section 159 of the Criminal Code, which makes anal intercourse illegal except when it is conducted in private between two people who are both 18 years of age or older, or between a married husband and wife.
  • Made a commitment in the Minister of Health’s mandate letter of October 4, 2017, to work with provinces and territories to develop a long-term vision for blood services that ensures safety and non-discrimination in donation policies.
  • Worked to adopt policies and practices to remove the unnecessary collection of gender markers in government forms as well as to introduce an ‘X’ gender designation on passport applications to ensure Canadians who do not identify as either male or female receive the same services and support as everyone else.
• Canada is actively promoting human rights related to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression on the international stage. Canada is the co-chair of the Equal Rights Coalition and has provided over $2.9 million in funding since 2014 for projects abroad that support violence-prevention programs, awareness campaigns, and advocacy efforts, including initiatives aimed to combat homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia in education systems.

Related Products

• Backgrounder: Expungement of historically unjust convictions
• Backgrounder: Government of Canada initiatives to support LGBTQ2 communities and promote diversity and inclusion
• Backgrounder: LGBTQ2 Agreement-in-Principle
• Remarks by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to apologize to LGBTQ2 Canadians

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://pm.gc.ca/)

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Prime Minister announces nomination of the Honourable Sheilah L. Martin to the Supreme Court of Canada

November 29, 2017
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the nomination of the Honourable Sheilah L. Martinto the Supreme Court of Canada.

First appointed as a judge in 2005, Justice Martin served on the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in Calgary until June 2016 when she was appointed as a judge of the Courts of Appeal of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. She has also served as a Deputy Judge for the Supreme Court of Yukon since 2009. Throughout her thirty-year career, she has maintained a strong focus on education, equality rights and increasing the number of under-represented groups in law schools and the legal profession, including Indigenous Peoples. For her service, Justice Martin has been recognized with many awards, including the Distinguished Service Award for Legal Scholarship, the Law Society of Alberta’s Certificate of Merit, and the YWCA’s Advancement of Women Award.

On December 4, 2017, the members of the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights will participate in a special committee hearing during which the Minister of Justice and the Chair of the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments (Advisory Board) will explain the selection process and the reasons Justice Martin was nominated.

As part of the government’s commitment to openness and transparency, members of the House’s Justice and Human Rights Committee and the Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee – as well as representatives of the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party – will be invited to take part in a questions and answers session with the nominee, which will be moderated by a law professor on December 5, 2017.

This nomination will fill the vacancy left following the retirement of Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin on December 15, 2017, and is the second nomination under the Government of Canada’s new Supreme Court selection process, which promotes greater openness, transparency, and accountability.

Quote

“I am pleased to announce the nomination of Justice Sheilah L. Martin to the Supreme Court of Canada. I am confident that, with the wealth of experience she has gained over a distinguished thirty‑year career, she will be a valuable addition to the Supreme Court, an institution well respected in Canada and around the world for its strength, independence, and judicial excellence.”

—Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• During the selection process, a non-partisan Advisory Board identified suitable candidates. Once the Advisory Board compiled a shortlist of candidates, the Minister of Justice consulted:
  • the Chief Justice of Canada;
  • applicable provincial and territorial attorneys general;
  • the Chairs of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; and
  • Opposition Justice critics.
• The selection process sought jurists of the highest caliber, who were functionally bilingual and representative of the diversity of this great country.
• Any Canadian lawyer or judge who met the criteria could apply to the Supreme Court of Canada through the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs.
• The Prime Minister will announce the appointment of the next Chief Justice of Canada by mid-December 2017.

Related Products

• Backgrounder: Frequently asked questions on the Supreme Court of Canada appointment process
• Biographical Notes: The Honourable Sheilah L. Martin

Associated Links

• Candidate questionnaire filled out by Justice Sheilah L. Martin
• Prime Minister opens the process to select the next justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
• Prime Minister announces Advisory Board to select next Supreme Court Justice
• Qualifications and Assessment Criteria for Supreme Court of Canada appointments
• Supreme Court of Canada appointments process

Reminder - Itinerary for Wednesday, November 29, 2017

November 28, 2017
Ottawa, Ontario

Itinerary for the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, for Wednesday, November 29, 2017:

Ottawa, Ontario  

10 a.m. The Prime Minister will attend the National Caucus meeting.

2 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend Question Period.

3 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend a ceremony to pay tribute to Special Olympics athletes in the House of Commons.

3:35 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend a reception for Special Olympics athletes and deliver remarks.

Room 237-C, Centre Block
Parliament Hill

Note for media:

• Open coverage for remarks

Itinerary for Wednesday, November 29, 2017

November 28, 2017
Ottawa, Ontario

Itinerary for the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, for Wednesday, November 29, 2017:

Ottawa, Ontario  

10 a.m. The Prime Minister will attend the National Caucus meeting.

2 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend Question Period.

3 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend a ceremony to pay tribute to Special Olympics athletes in the House of Commons.

3:35 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend a reception for Special Olympics athletes and deliver remarks.

Room 237-C, Centre Block
Parliament Hill

Note for media:

• Open coverage for remarks