The Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) is pleased that Bill C-4: An act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy) passed unanimously in the House of Commons on December 1, 2021. OACAS supports legislation that protects Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (2SLGBTQ+) Canadians, and in particular children and youth, from persecution and discrimination based on gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. We are a proud ally and support the rights of all 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians to live and express themselves freely and be protected from harm in all spaces.
We call on the Senate to adopt Bill C-4 to ensure an end to the destructive practice of conversion therapy across Canada as quickly as possible.
For our previous statement in support of Bill C-6: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), click here.
To learn more about the intersections of the Ontario child welfare system and 2SLGBTQ+children, youth, and families, including recommendations for Children’s Aid Societies to ensure more equitable service and outcomes for the 2SLGBTQ+community, click here.
