An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code

An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (Bill C-16, 2016)
An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code
Legislative history
Bill citation Bill C-16 of 2016
Introduced by Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice
First reading May 17, 2016
Second reading Oct 18, 2016
Third reading Nov 18, 2016

An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (Bill C-16, 2016) is a bill introduced in the Parliament of Canada on May 17, 2016 by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

If enacted into law, the bill will amend the Canadian Human Rights Act by adding "gender identity or expression" as a prohibited ground of discrimination.[1] That would make it illegal to deny services, employment, accommodation and similar benefits to individuals based on their gender identity or expression. An individual who denies benefits based on the gender identity or expression could be civilly liable for monetary damages to the individual denied benefits. This prohibition would only apply to matters falling within federal jurisdiction.

The bill also proposes to amend the Criminal Code by adding "gender identity or expression" to the definition of "identifiable group" in section 318.[2] That amendment would make it a criminal offence to spread hate propaganda based on gender identity or expression, contrary to section 318, and would also make it a criminal offence to advocate genocide based on gender identity or expression, contrary to section 319 of the Code.

The bill also proposes to add "gender identity or expression" to section 718.2 of the Code.[3] This section is part of the sentencing provisions, and would make it an aggravating factor to commit a criminal offence motivated by the gender identity or expression of the victim.

These criminal prohibitions would apply across Canada.

The bill must pass the legislative process in the House of Commons, then the Senate, and finally receive Royal Assent before it will become law.[4][5]


References

  1. ↑ Bill C-16 (2016), clause 2.
  2. ↑ Bill C-16 (2016), clause 3.
  3. ↑ Bill C-16 (2016), clause 4.
  4. ↑ LegisInfo (42nd Parliament, 1st Session).
  5. ↑ LEGISinfo - House Government Bill C-16 (42-1)

External links

House Government Bill C-16: An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code

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