Equality: Should we really need a Tribunal for this? C279 update

I couldn't help but watch in amazement this week as Federal MPs debated whether or not to consider 'amendments' that had been tabled at a committee meeting for Bill C279, prior to the House voting on the Bill at third reading. Bill C279 is a proposal to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to include Gender Identity and Gender Expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination.

What I found sad was that three Conservative MPs, Robert Goguen, Dan Albas, and David Anderson, stood up and spoke essentially the same message. The all openly acknowledged that members of the trans community had been denied basic human rights from both public and private sector entities. Specifically, they spoke about how transwomen had been denied employment and health care, to the point that they had to go complain to a Federal Tribunal in order for rights to be sought - the same rights that all other Canadians not only have, but are often taken for granted!

What kind of country do we live in here folks?? Most of you reading this might likely take access to equality for granted. Regardless of what is written in  Constitutional Laws or Government Acts and Legislation, I'd like to hope that basic access to equality would be something ingrained in our culture, not something certain folks would have to get only through a complex legal procedure.

The very fact that we have documented evidence of discrimination against transwomen by Federally-regulated entities, such as the Bank of Canada, is clear indication that our Government is NOT doing nearly enough to promote acceptance and equality.

While the Conservatives spoke about how Justice had ultimately been served through the Human Rights Tribunal process, what they fail to recognize, is that a Tribunal should only have to be a last resort, not the first point of contact. These tribunal processes take years! As Steven Harper himself once said, Justice Delayed is Justice Denied" and "access to a waiting list is not access to service."

While the Conservatives tried to use the Tribunal process as evidence that our country is good enough, I feel that the exact opposite was demonstrated: that we as a country are failing our most vulnerable citizens, and regardless of what is written on legal documents, it is us as people, as Canadians, who's values need to change the most!

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