THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay has denounced the practice of so-called conversion therapy, pledging to advocate for its criminalization and to examine ways to fight it with municipal bylaws.
A motion put forward by Northwood councillor Shelby Ch’ng was passed unanimously by city council Monday, denouncing treatments that attempt to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity as harmful, unscientific, and unethical.
The city will call on the federal government to pass Bill C-6, which would amend the Criminal Code of Canada to include conversion therapy-related offences.
The bill has seen several delays since it was introduced in March of 2020. It is currently stalled before the Senate over its summer recess, after passing second reading in the House in June.
All major political parties officially support the bill, though 62 Conservative MPs – more than half of the party’s caucus – voting against it on second reading.
Advocates from the Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay presenting to city council Monday worried that with a federal election widely expected to cut the current legislative session short, Bill C-6 won’t make it into law.
While the battle to ban conversion therapy may be playing out on federal turf, Rainbow Collective president Jason Veltri told councillors the city could join other Ontario municipalities in taking a stand on the issue.
“The municipality has an ability to send a strong and clear message of support to our 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” he said.
Dr. Kristopher Wells, a professor at MacEwan University in Edmonton, argued conversion therapy should be firmly condemned as he spoke to council with the Rainbow Collective.
“It’s not a recognized therapy at all, it’s a form of abuse, and in some cases may reach the level of family violence and child-focused violence,” he said. “We can be very clear that these kind of practices have no place anywhere in Canadian society.”
Research indicates at least 50,000 Canadians have been exposed to conversion therapy practices, he said, adding that was likely an underestimate.
It's uncertain whether such practices are currently taking place locally, Rainbow Collective representatives told councillors Monday.
Ch’ng’s motion directs city administration to report back to council with ways the city can “support the intent of Bill C-6… through planning and development, business licensing and human resources support available for city employees.”
That follows in the footsteps of the City of Kingston, which recently passed a similar motion, with a draft bylaw due for review by its city council before the end of the year.
McKellar Ward councillor Brian Hamilton supported advocating to pass Bill C-6, but pushed to drop the requirement for a report on municipal bylaw options, saying the city’s licensing and enforcement division was already overwhelmed with work.
A report on a potential nuisance bylaw hadn’t moved forward more than a year after it was requested by city council, for example, he said.
City manager Norm Gale agreed the office had little capacity for new work.
“You have asked us to do a lot when it comes to bylaw enforcement – their plate is full,” he said, adding the situation was similar at legal services.
Hamilton proposed an amendment to cut the requirement for a report, but failed to find a seconder. Council later voted unanimously in favour of the main motion.
The Rainbow Collective issued a strongly-worded statement Tuesday criticizing Hamilton and urging him to apologize for moving the amendment.
“While we understand and acknowledge the added workload to city administration, the message [he] sent to survivors and the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities is that their health and well-being do not matter and do not warrant municipal support," the group said. "Simply stating support for the federal bill, especially when we mentioned it was stalled and will likely die in the Senate, is not helpful."
Reached Tuesday, Hamilton said he was supportive of the group’s request, noting he eventually voted for the motion.
However, he said council couldn’t ignore serious capacity issues in the city’s enforcement and legal divisions that had been exacerbated by the pandemic.
“I have been consistent in supporting every single LGBTQ+ initiative that’s come to council,” he said. “It’s not that I don’t see this as important. However, it’s my duty to be cognizant of the workload we’re putting on city staff.”
Notice of the resolution passed Monday by council will be shared with the Prime Minister and various federal ministers including local MP Patty Hajdu, and other local representatives.
City staff must report back on municipal options for prohibiting conversion therapy by March 31, 2022.
Note: This article has been updated to include a statement issued by the Rainbow Collective and comment from Coun. Hamilton. It has also been updated to reflect the deadline for a report back from administration.
