EGALE Calls on PM to Affirm Hawaii Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
December 4, 1996
The national lesbian and gay rights organization EGALE today called on Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to affirm that Canada will recognize same-sex marriages validly performed in Hawaii. Yesterday the Hawaii Circuit Court ruled that the refusal to...  Full Text

Kelowna Hosts Inaugural Meeting of Rainbow BC
October 15, 1996
Lesbians, bisexuals and gay men from across British Columbia have launched Rainbow BC, an umbrella network of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered organizations working in the province’s communities. The network was launched at a conference...  Full Text

Supreme Court of Canada Agrees to Hear Alberta Sexual Orientation Case
October 3, 1996
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled today that it will hear an appeal from the Alberta Court of Appeal in the case of Vriend v. Alberta. The case concerns whether the Alberta human rights legislation must be extended to include 'sexual orientation' as a...  Full Text

Ontario Board of Inquiry Extends Definition of “Spouse” in Municipal Act
October 2, 1996
In a far-reaching decision, the Ontario Board of Inquiry has ordered that the definitions of “spouse” and “marital status” in the Ontario Human Rights Code “be read down to exclude the discriminatory...  Full Text

Tribunal Decides Air Canada Pension Case
September 13, 1996
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal handed down a decision today on the case of Lassoe v. Air Canada. Niels Lassoe, an employee, was seeking benefits for his same-sex partner. The hearing focused on survivor pension benefits since Air Canada agreed to...  Full Text

Human Rights Bill Clears Senate
June 5, 1996
Bill C-33, which adds “sexual orientation” to the Canadian Human Rights Act, received third reading in the Senate today, and now requires only Royal Assent to become law. A move to have the Bill referred back to Committee for...  Full Text

Census ‘96: Acknowledging Same-Sex Relationships
May 13, 1996
The 1996 Census dances around the issue of same-sex relationships without addressing the question directly, according to EGALE, the national lesbian and gay lobby group.  Full Text

Egale Applauds Government Initiative for Imminent Passage of Bill C-33
May 9, 1996
EGALE applauded today the Government initiative in bringing forward and ensuring the swift passage of amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect lesbians and gays from discrimination.  Full Text

South Africa Includes “Sexual Orientation” in New Constitution
May 8, 1996
Today, South Africa’s new Constitution comes into effect. The Constitution includes a Bill of Rights which explicitly protects lesbians and gays from discrimination. Clause 9(3) of the South African Bill of Rights (attached) states:  Full Text

Egale Testifies before Human Rights Committee
May 1, 1996
Witnesses will include: Reverend Brent Hawkes, MCC Church Michelle Douglas, a lesbian dismissed from the Armed Forces John Fisher, Executive Director, EGALE Carmen Paquette, former Ontario Human Rights Commissioner  Full Text

Free Vote Protest
May 1, 1996
EGALE will be staging a media event today to protest the Prime Minister’s announcement of a free vote on amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act.  Full Text

Equality Communities Respond to Human Rights Act Amendments
April 29, 1996
A number of groups will respond to amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect lesbians and gays from discrimination.  Full Text

Allocution du Ministre de la Justice lors du gala d’ÉGALE
April 26, 1996
L’hon Allan Rock, C.P., député et ministre de la Justice, a accepté de présenter une allocution lors du Gala de bienfaisance annuel d’ÉGALE, qui aura lieu sur la Colline...  In French

Bill S-2 Clears Senate without Opposition
April 24, 1996
Bill S-2, an Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the ground of “sexual orientation”, passed third reading in the Senate today and has been referred to the House of Commons. The Bill, introduced...  Full Text

EGALE to Testify before Senate Committee on Human Rights Bill
April 18, 1996
Representatives of EGALE will testify before the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in support of Bill S-2, an Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the ground of “sexual...  Full Text

PM Says: No Free Vote on Human Rights Act
April 18, 1996
Despite pressure from a few right-wing Liberal M.P.s, the Prime Minister has already committed the Government to a whipped vote on the upcoming amendments to add “sexual orientation” to the Canadian Human Rights Act, says EGALE...  Full Text

Senator Introduces Bill to Amend Human Rights Act
February 29, 1996
On February 28, Conservative Senator Noel Kinsella introduced Bill S-2, a Senate Bill to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians.  Full Text

BC Demands That Ottawa Keep Its Promises to Gays and Lesbians
February 28, 1996
Voters from across British Columbia are among the 20,000 Canadians that have signed petitions demanding that the federal government honour its ten-year-old promise to add sexual orientation to the Canadian Human Rights Act.  Full Text

Anniversary Petition Presentation to M.P.s
February 27, 1996
To mark the 10th Anniversary of the first Government promise to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act, M.P.s from 3 parties will be presented with thousands of signatures on hundreds of petitions.  Full Text | In French

Alberta Court of Appeal Rules
February 23, 1996
'The Courts have squarely placed responsibility for amending Human Rights legislation back on the shoulders of Parliament, where it belongs. While the Prime Minister is paralysed by indecision, the Courts are forced to address issues that ought to be...  Full Text

A Report Card for Jean Chretien
February 22, 1996
“The Prime Minister believes fundamentally that a Government must be judged by its effectiveness in promoting human dignity, justice, fairness and opportunity.”  Full Text

Mme Hedy Fry recevra un vidéo sur des conjoints de même sexe lors de la remise d’un valentin gai aux député(e)s
February 13, 1996
Demain, les député(e)s recevront un cadeau de Saint-Valentin: un exemplaire du film «Jim Loves Jack: the Jim Egan Story», qui leur sera remis gratuitement grâce à ÉGALE,...  In French

Hedy Fry to Accept Same-Sex Video at Gay Valentine Presentation to MPs
February 13, 1996
This Valentine’s Day, M.P.s will receive a special Valentine treat: a complimentary copy of the film Jim Loves Jack: the Jim Egan Story, courtesy of EGALE, the Campaign for Equal Families and filmmaker David Adkin. This video traces in...  Full Text

“Opposite-Sex” Definition of Spouse Discriminatory, Adjudicator Rules
February 7, 1996
The Treasury Board’s refusal to accord equality to same-sex relationships is discriminatory, ruled the Public Service Staff Relations Board yesterday. The Board issued its decision in a grievance filed by Stephen Yarrow, who had been denied...  Full Text