There’s a bill before the Senate that could once and for all protect transgender people from discrimination. Bill C-279 would finally insert gender identity into the Canadian Human Rights Act and into hate crimes legislation.
In the past, we’ve urged our members to contact their senators to express their support for this bill. We were ecstatic when, last year, Bill-279 passed the House of Commons with the support of 18 Conservative MPs.
Unfortunately, Conservative Senator Donald Neil Plett aims to bring toxic amendments to the bill; if passed, these amendments will likely lead to the bill dying on the order paper.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can take a stand for the trans community by contacting Senators on the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Tell them not to pass any amendments to Bill C-279 and to pass the bill in its current form.
| Name | Prov. | Party | Tel. | Social media | |
| Sen. Bob Runciman | ON | C | 613‑943‑4020 | runcib@sen.parl.gc.ca | |
| Sen. George Baker | NL | L | 613‑947‑2517 | bakerg@sen.parl.gc.ca | |
| Sen. Denise Batters | SK | C | 613‑996‑8922 | denise.batters@sen.parl.gc.ca | |
| Sen. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu | QC | C | 613‑943‑4030 | boisvp@sen.parl.gc.ca | |
| Sen. Jean-Guy Dagenais | QC | C | 613‑996‑7644 | dagenj@sen.parl.gc.ca | |
| Sen. Linda Frum | ON | C | 613‑992‑0310 | fruml@sen.parl.gc.ca | @LindaFrum |
| Sen. Mobina Jaffer | BC | L | 613‑992‑0189 | mjaffer@sen.parl.gc.ca | @SenJaffer |
| Sen. Serge Joyal | QC | L | 613‑943‑0434 | joyals@sen.parl.gc.ca | |
| Sen. Thomas Johnson McInnis | NS | C | 613‑943‑1662 | mcinnt@sen.parl.gc.ca | |
| Sen. Paul McIntyre | NB | C | 613‑943‑1756 | mcintp@sen.parl.gc.ca | |
| Sen. Donald Plett | MB | C | 613‑992‑0180 | plettd@sen.parl.gc.ca | @DonPlett |
| Sen. Jean-Claude Rivest | QC | I | 613‑947‑2236 | jcrivest@sen.parl.gc.ca |
Here are a few tips from PSAC:
What to say
- My name is __________________ and I am calling from _____________________ to urge you to support the swift passage of Bill C-279 on Gender Identity as it is currently drafted.
- Canada’s transgender communities have long suffered discrimination and violence and this legislation is part of the solution to protecting the human rights of transgender individuals.
- I would like you to know that I am not afraid of sharing public spaces including bathrooms with transgender people.
- But I am afraid that unless C-279 passes unamended, transgender people will continue to live in fear each and every time they enter a public space such as a bathroom.
- Delays in passing legislation cost lives. This bill is as perfect as it’s going to get. Please do the right thing and support Bill C-279 as drafted. Let this be your legacy for this Parliamentary session.
- Thank you for your time.
What else can I do?
- Call other Senators! Contact details here
- Email Senators, post messages on their Facebook pages, or send them Tweets! Remember to use the hashtag #SupportBillC279.