Press Release

September 19, 1995

Egale Renews Demand for Action as Parliament Resumes

Supports Demotion of Anti-Gay M.P.s

The Prime Minister’s integrity and credibility were called into question by the national gay lobby group EGALE (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere), as the House of Commons resumed.

“The Prime Minister made a clear election commitment to add sexual orientation to the Canadian Human Rights Act. He has so far failed to do so, and the Government will still not give us a timetable for these amendments,” said John Fisher, Executive Director of EGALE. “This has become more than a matter of simple justice, it has become a measure of the Government’s integrity. Is this Government capable of keeping a simple promise, or isn’t it?”

EGALE is delivering a memo to all MPs this week (copy attached), demanding introduction of the Human Rights Act amendments by the end of 1995. “Minister of Justice Allan Rock had promised introduction of the amendments by the end of 1994.” said Fisher. “That promise was broken. There is no reason whatsoever that the amendments cannot be introduced by the end of this year. If they are more than a year late fulfilling this simple commitment, we will know that the Government lacks credibility.”

While disappointed that the House of Commons yesterday voted against a private member’s motion by Réal Ménard to recognize same-sex spouses, EGALE was pleased to note that government M.P.s who had voted against legislation to increase penalties for gay-bashing and other hate-motivated crimes, were demoted or stripped of committee responsibilities.

“M.P.s have no business abusing their committee positions to advance their own personal prejudices,” said Fisher. “The anti-gay positions taken by these M.P.s were at odds with their own Government’s policy and the views of the vast majority of Canadians.”

For further information:
John Fisher, Executive Director, EGALE: (613) 230-1043

Egale Canada ©2011

Canada's LGBT human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice.