Transgender rights bill approved in Commons, with help from 16 Tories
Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian Press
Published Wednesday, Mar. 20, 2013 7:38PM EDT
Last Updated Wednesday, Mar. 20, 2013 7:58PM EDThttp://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/transgender-rights-bill-approved-in-commons-with-help-from-16-tories-1.1204423
OTTAWA -- A bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against transgender Canadians was approved by the House of Commons on Wednesday.
The Opposition private member's legislation passed by a vote of 149-137, with the crucial support of 16 Conservatives, including four cabinet ministers.
It was one of the first tests of the Conservative caucus' resolve on lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) rights in Canada at a time when Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has been mounting a strong defence of such rights abroad.
Baird, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Labour Minister Lisa Raitt and Heritage Minister James Moore were among the Conservatives who supported the bill. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, most of his front bench and the vast majority of his backbenchers opposed it.
Opposition parties were united in their support for the bill, sponsored by New Democrat Randall Garrison.
"Today, New Democrats are proud to have contributed to ensuring equal protection under the law from discrimination and hatred based on gender identity," Garrison said in a statement after the vote.
"Transgender and transsexual citizens are among the most marginalized and are too often victims of harassment and acts of violence."
The bill had triggered vigorous, sometimes emotional debate in the Commons.
There were complaints that the language in the bill was confusing and vague, including the term "gender expression" and "gender identity."
Garrison tried to strike a compromise by removing the term "gender expression."
