Bill C-279 passes second reading!
Bill C-279 has passed its first vote in the House of Commons. It now goes to the Justice Committee for amendments before a final vote in the House.
This bill would add “gender identity and gender expression” to our federal human rights protections and to our hate crime legislation. Unfortunately, the bill’s sponsor has suggested that “gender expression” might be dropped in the final version to address concerns that the term is not well defined.
To see how your MP voted check here. http://www.parl.gc.ca/HouseChamberBusiness/ChamberVoteDetail.aspx?FltrParl=41&FltrSes=1&Vote=271&Language=E&Mode=1
Most of the Opposition members were in support, and a small but growing number of Conservative MPs were in favour as well.
Bill C-279 is essentially a restating of Bill C-389 from the previous Parliament that was passed by the House but died in the Senate with the fall of the minority government.
The text of the bill can be found http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=5122660
More info about the bill and its future can be found in this article from Xtra.