Canadian parliamentarians form national cross-party LGBT+ caucus

 

Members of the Canadian House of Commons and Senate have come together to form a parliamentary LGBT+ caucus in the federal parliament.

The first members of the group include eight MPs from three federal political parties and two independent senators. Its stated goals include engaging in a dialogue with civil society organisations, focusing on working in a non-partisan manner to raise awareness of 2SLGBTQI+ issues among Canadian parliamentarians, and acting as an interlocutor in parliamentary diplomacy on 2SLGBTQI+ issues.

Members include:

  • The Honourable René Cormier, Independent Senator (Co-chair)

  • Mr. Blake Desjarlais, MP (NDP) (Co-chair)

  • Ms. Lisa Marie Barron, MP (NDP)

  • The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

  • Mr. Randall Garrison, MP (NDP)

  • Ms. Melissa Lantsman, MP (CPC).

  • The Honourable Seamus O'Regan, Minister of Labour

  • The Honourable Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

  • The Honourable Kim Pate, Independent Senator.

  • The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

The caucus intends to hold its first event in February 2023.

In a statement, co-chairs Sen. René Cormier and Blake Desjarlais MP said: “"Current events are a constant reminder that the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ communities are eroding and far from achieved around the world. As Canada marks the anniversary of the passage of the Act aiming to ban Conversion Therapy Practices this week, it is clear that we are seeing some momentum in the advancement of 2SLGBTQI+ rights in our country, but progress must continue and the Caucus' non-partisan approach will be a key asset in doing so. The non-partisan approach among parliamentarians has proven successful in other legislatures internationally. It is now Canada's turn to provide united leadership on this issue.”

The Global Equality Caucus first convened legislators in Ottawa in 2020, where we worked with members to lay the groundwork for a national caucus. We have continued to work closely with Canadian parliamentarians, including GEC founder member Randy Boissonnault and Steering Committee member René Cormier, and welcome the establishment of the Canadian Pride Caucus.

 
Andrew Slinn