On June 19, 2017, Bill C-16, An Act to amend the
Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, took effect,
amending both the Canada Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code of
Canada to expressly extend protection against both discrimination
and hate crimes based on "gender identity or expression".
Practically, the addition of these specific terms will make little
legal difference: Canadian courts, adjudicators, tribunals and
arbitrators have interpreted the protections based on
"sex" (or in some cases, "sexual orientation")
to include gender identity and/or expression in any event. But
words matter: in those of Gandhi, "Your beliefs become your
thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words
become your actions, Your actions become your
habits, Your habits become your values, Your values
become your destiny." The federal government states its
motivation for Bill C-16 is its belief that it's,
"time for Parliament to affirm the rights of transgender and
other
