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Saturday February 19, 2022

February 19, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 19, 2022

Majority have lost faith in Canada’s ability to keep peace and order in wake of trucker protests: poll

February 10, 2022

After weeks of protests snarling downtown Ottawa and blockading border crossings, nearly two-thirds of Canadians have lost faith in the ability of the country to maintain peace, order and good government and 53 per cent have lost faith in the enforcement of the law, according to a new poll.

The Maru Public Opinion poll, done from Feb. 15 to Feb. 16, found that 71 per cent of Canadians would vote for a “strong-willed person” who will enforce law and order, regardless of what political party they’re from.

This view is strongest in Quebec (86 per cent) and in British Columbia (74 per cent). In Ontario and Alberta — both provinces with conservative premiers — this number drops to 66 per cent, followed by 63 per cent in Atlantic Canada and 62 per cent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

“Whether people know it or not, our daily politics and our ability to do things in this country is founded on the principle of peace, order and good government,” said John Wright, executive vice president of Maru Public Opinion. “That speaks to the door that opens to some form of populism that exists in other countries.”

Thursday June 24, 2021

July 1, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 24, 2021

Bill to restrict conversion therapy passes House, heads to Senate

June 10, 2021

The government’s bill to restrict conversion therapy has passed through the House of Commons and is now headed to the Senate.

Bill C-6 passed 263-63 with support from the Bloc Québécois and the NDP. Although many Conservatives MPs voted against it, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole voted in favour.

Conversion therapy is an attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

If successful, the government’s amendment of the Criminal Code would make it illegal to force a minor or non-consenting adult to: undergo conversion therapy; take a minor abroad for conversion therapy; or promote, advertise, or benefit from the provision of conversion therapy, among other things.

August 27, 2019

In March, Conservative MP Tamara Jansen tabled a petition in the House on the definition of conversion therapy in the bill. She, and some of her House colleagues, have argued that the bill would criminalize normal conversations between children and parents about sexuality.

The legislation was first introduced in March 2020, then reintroduced last October after Parliament was prorogued in August.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked the NDP and Bloc to support “pieces of legislation” he said would make a difference to Canadians, including Bill C-6.

May 31, 2016

“There’s also a time to work together … as we move (to pass) some really important pieces of legislation today (by) supporting the LGBTQ community by banning conversion therapy,” Trudeau said. “The Conservatives don’t want us to do that, but we will, with the support of the NDP and the Bloc.”

After Tuesday’s vote, Conservative Justice critic Rob Moore, who voted against the bill, said in a statement that a Conservative government would introduce a bill that better defines conversion therapy.

“At committee, Conservatives introduced an amendment that would better clarify the definition of conversion therapy in the bill to target coercive practices,” the statement reads. “The Liberals ignored reasonable efforts to build a consensus and strengthen the bill.”

C-6 could be introduced at first reading in the Senate before the chamber rises at 9 p.m. on Tuesday. (iPolitics)