Where the parties stand on the issues


1. Do you support adding sexual orientation to the list of
prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights
Act?

PC:  Yes
L:   Yes
NDP: Yes

EGALE comments:
All three parties have supported this reform since at least 1985
when the all-party Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights
recommended the amendment.


2. Do you agree that the proposed definition of marital status in
Bill C-108 (which defines marital status as applying only to
heterosexual couples) discriminates unfairly against same-sex
couples?

PC:  No
"The definition of marital status in Bill C-108 is consistent with
previous court decisions."

L:


NDP: Yes
"The NDP is opposing Bill C-108 and the definition of marital
status that excludes same-sex couples."


3. Do you believe that the federal government should extend
employee benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees?

PC:
"...the federal government's legal obligations in the extension of
federal employee benefits has not yet been comprehensively
considered by the courts."

L:

NDP: Yes


EGALE comments:
To leave this matter to the courts to decide is an abdication of
Parliament's responsibilities as a policy-making body.


4. Do you support a review of federal legislation with the aim of
allowing lesbian and gay couples to share the same benefits and
responsibilities as heterosexuals?

PC:
"The Department of Justice has already begun a review of federal
legislation and policies that make distinctions on the basis of
marriage and family relationships. The issue of benefits for gay
and lesbian partners will be considered as part of this review."

L:


NDP: Yes


5. Do you support changes to federal marriage law to recognize
same-sex marriages?

PC: 
"As this issue is currently before the courts, it would be
inappropriate for me to comment, other than to say that federal
legislation does not prohibit same-sex marriages."

L:


NDP: Yes


6. Do you support amendments to the Immigration Act to allow the
immigration of same-sex partners of Canadian citizens?

PC:
"We are committed to Canada's concept of the family....There are no
plans to change the Act at this time."

L:

NDP: Yes


7. Do you believe Canada should grant asylum to refugees with a
well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of sexual
orientation?

PC: 
"Under our refugee determination system, all persons are entitled
to assert a claim to Canada's protection....There is no need to
change our regulations to include sexual orientation."

L:


NDP: Yes


8. Do you support the reinstatement of the Court Challenges
Program?


PC: 
"Our decision to cancel the Court Challenges Program in the 1992
budget was based on the need to cut spending and the deficit....it
was never intended to give perpetual resources to lobby groups."

L:

NDP: Yes


9: Would you support federally-funded research and public education
programs to address the problem of breast cancer among lesbians?

PC: 
"This government is contributing $25 million over five years to
help fight breast cancer....our initiatives in this area are
intended to help all women."

L:


NDP: Yes


10. Do you agree that federal AIDS funding should be increased to
$55.35 million a year?

PC:
"We increased funding to $42.2 million a year for the next five
years....This increase comes at a time when we must cut back
spending in virtually all areas." 

L:

NDP:


11. Do you support health system policies that would provide
lesbians and gay men with the same access to reproductive
technologies as heterosexuals?

PC:  
"[This question] is currently not covered under federal law. The
Royal Commission on Reproductive Technologies is looking into this
and other related issues."

L:

NDP:  Yes


12. Do you support amendments to the Criminal Code to prohibit hate
crimes based on sexual orientation?

PC:  
"Broadening the type of speech caught by the hate propaganda
provisions of the Criminal Code would make them vulnerable to
attack under the Charter as an unjustified infringement of freedom
of speech."

L:

NDP:  Yes

13. Would you encourage your party to actively recruit openly
lesbian and gay candidates?

PC:
"The Progressive Conservative Party does not inquire as to the
sexual orientation of its members or candidates."

L:

NDP:  Yes


14. Would you encourage your party to appoint a staff person to act
as a liaison with the lesbian and gay community?

PC:
"[This] is an internal matter of the Party."

L:

NDP:  Yes


15. If your party forms the next government, would you support the
appointment of well-qualified, openly-gay men and lesbians to
Order-in-Council positions?

PC:  
"The Progressive Conservative Party does not discriminate on the
basis of sexual orientation."

L:

NDP:  Yes