December 08, 1994
REFORM OPPOSES INCLUSION OF "SEXUAL ORIENTATION" IN HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
Ottawa - Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville once again responded to his critics for his determined stand opposing government proposals which would enshrine in Canadian law any measure which would have the effect of granting "special status" for homosexuals. The Reform Caucus issued a statement this week which provided arguments against including "sexual orientation" as a protected category in the Canadian Human Rights Act.
1.WE AFFIRM that all Canadians, including homosexuals, are entitled to life, liberty, security of the person, and the freedom from discrimination, regardless of personal characteristics, and that these entitlements should be strictly enforced.
2.WE AFFIRM that these entitlements should be based on personhood, not on sexual orientation or any other personal characteristics.
3.WE OPPOSE the tendency of the courts and of Parliament to create or recognize different categories of persons in Canada for the purposes of defining or augmenting their rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the Canadian Human Rights Act.
4.WE OPPOSE the practice of granting undefined or unlimited rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the Canadian Human Rights Act.
5.WE OPPOSE the government's announced intention to specifically include "sexual orientation" as a prohibited ground of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act as unnecessary and inadvisable.
The Reform Caucus is concerned that inclusion of "sexual orientation" in the Canadian Human Rights Act will open the door to the infringement of existing rights and privileges of other Canadians. These could include an infringement of: Freedom of religious expression, freedom of association and the rights of public safety and security of the person. The Reform Caucus also recognizes that the anticipated difficulties in satisfactorily defining the term "sexual orientation" is the principal reason why it was not included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. Even the Canadian Bar Association recently told the House of Commons Justice Committee that "sexual orientation" can include other things besides homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality including, "...something that is illegal".
"Over 90% of my constituents in two separate polls have said they do not want marriage redefined to include to people of the same sex and most are opposed to including the term "sexual orientation" in the Canadian Human Rights Act, which would have the effect of redefining marriage, spouse and family in Canadian law. I support the majority opinion of my Caucus colleagues and I will vote according to my constituents' wishes regardless of what the newspapers say," promised Breitkreuz.
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- Freedom of religious expression (under the Liberals proposals, those who teach children or others the Christian, Islamic, Jewish, or Sikh perspective on the morality of homosexual acts could be subject to prosecution).
- Freedom of association (schools and community organizations could be compelled to include homosexual participation, leadership, and promotion even against deeply held convictions of individuals, families/parents, groups or communities).
- Rights of public safety and security of the person (health authorities could be constrained from distinguishing "high risk" groups in matters such as HIV infection in blood donations, and prohibiting high-risk individuals from participating in the provision of patient care).