Wednesday, May 28, 2025
ADVT 
National

Manitoba bill to add gender expression to human rights code draws praise, criticism

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Apr, 2025 11:24 AM
  • Manitoba bill to add gender expression to human rights code draws praise, criticism

Dozens of people lined up Thursday night to air opposition toand support for Manitoba's plan to add gender expression tothe human rights code — a move that would include protections for people to be called by their preferred pronouns.

Derek deVries, pastor at Park City Gospel Church in Winnipeg, said the NDP government's bill would force Christians to go against their beliefs.

"This (proposed) law forbids Christians from following Christ's example. It requires speech he would not permit," deVries told a legislature committee.

Christine Ronceray said the bill amounts to "compelled speech."

"No one in a free society should be forced to say what they do not believe."

Manitoba is one of the few provinces with mandatory public hearings for bills, with the exception of budget-related ones. More than 60 people had registered to speak to the humanrights code bill, and further hearings were scheduled for next week.

Most of the presenters in the first three hours of Thursday's hearing spoke against the bill. Some expressed concern that they could find themselves brought before the human rightscommission for misgendering someone, or for asking to be treated by a doctor of a specific gender.

The executive director of the Manitoba Human RightsCommission, Karen Sharma, addressed some of the concerns raised, saying the code applies to employment, housing and other services and not to interactions between private individuals or inside religious institutions.

Sharma also said honest mistakes about gender pronouns are very unlikely to lead to any trouble.

"I think it's important to note that the cases that have gone tohuman rights tribunals and have been found to be discriminatory are cases of sort of malicious, repetitive misgendering," she said.

Tara Sheppard, director of a non-governmental research group that deals with gender equity, spoke in favour of the bill and suggested there is an easy way for people to avoid being brought before the human rights commission.

"Here's a simple solution — don't violate people's humanrights," Sheppard said.

The bill would help address systemic discrimination people face, Sheppard added.

Most other provinces already have gender expression covered under their human rights codes. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe repeatedly told presenters Thursday night that the bill is not about forcing government views on people.

"This bill in no way polices thoughts or beliefs," Wiebe told the crowd.

"This really is about protecting against discrimination based on gender expression which might cause someone to lose their job, or be denied an apartment, or be denied services that are public."

The issue of gender expression went before the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal recently.

Marni Panas, a transgender woman, filed a complaint in 2019 after she was misgendered by dispatchers when she called toask for a welfare check on a friend.

The tribunal found there was discrimination but dismissed the complaint, saying dispatchers didn't mean to misgender Panas.

Panas has applied for a judicial review of the ruling.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

MORE National ARTICLES

Hikers scramble for alternatives after damage shuts B.C.'s popular Juan de Fuca Trail

Hikers scramble for alternatives after damage shuts B.C.'s popular Juan de Fuca Trail
Trish Fougner still remembers the taste of the beer she enjoyed after completing the 47-kilometre Juan de Fuca Trailon Vancouver Island two years ago.

Hikers scramble for alternatives after damage shuts B.C.'s popular Juan de Fuca Trail

Bells toll, faithful gather in Toronto and Montreal to honour late Pope Francis

Bells toll, faithful gather in Toronto and Montreal to honour late Pope Francis
Catholic faithful gathered for multiple events in Toronto andMontreal to commemorate the late Pope Francis on Tuesday, a day the Archbishop of Toronto described as one of sadness but also thanks for a pontiff dedicated to building bridges andoffering compassion to marginalized groups.

Bells toll, faithful gather in Toronto and Montreal to honour late Pope Francis

Crews fight fire in downtown Vancouver as smoke spreads across city

Crews fight fire in downtown Vancouver as smoke spreads across city
Firefighters are fighting a large blaze in downtown Vancouverthat's sending a smoky haze and the smell of smoke acrossthe city. 

Crews fight fire in downtown Vancouver as smoke spreads across city

Poilievre defends economic growth projections in Conservative platform as 'essential'

Poilievre defends economic growth projections in Conservative platform as 'essential'
The Conservative leader was in Hamilton, Ont., on Wednesday, with just days to go before the federal vote on Monday and a day after he released the party's costed campaign platform.

Poilievre defends economic growth projections in Conservative platform as 'essential'

Sex assault trial begins for five former world junior hockey players

Sex assault trial begins for five former world junior hockey players
Prosecutors are laying out the evidence they expect to present as the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team begins in London, Ont., today.

Sex assault trial begins for five former world junior hockey players

Police identify Tyler Smith as homicide victim found in burned home in Langley, B.C.

Police identify Tyler Smith as homicide victim found in burned home in Langley, B.C.
British Columbia's Homicide Investigation Team is identifying the person who was found dead inside a burned Langleyhome hoping to further its investigation. 

Police identify Tyler Smith as homicide victim found in burned home in Langley, B.C.