Date: 27 Jan 95 16:05:53 EST
From: "Patrick (Canada)" <70762.1016@compuserve.com>

                             EGALE INFO-UPDATE

What's up?

    The Government promised to introduce amendments to the Human
     Rights Act to include "sexual orientation" as a prohibited
     ground of discrimination by the end of 1994.  It did not do
     so.

    The main reason for the delay appears to be the Prime
     Minister's reluctance to take on at this time another issue
     which he perceives to be "controversial".

    Recent public statements from the P.M. and Justice Minister
     include:

Prime Minister Jean Chretien, CBC interview, December 1994:

     "Let's dispose of this one [Bill C-41 - the hate crimes law]
     and after that it will be time for the other [the Human
     Rights Act amendments]. ... When it will be disposed of,
     we'll proceed with the rest."

     "We will have a debate on that [the CHRA amendments]."

Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Press Conference, January 16, 1995:

     "[The CHRA amendment] is part of our commitments and we have
     three more years or four more years to our mandate. "

Minister of Justice Allan Rock, Media Scrum, January 17, 1995:

     "I can't say when but I can only tell you that the
     commitment remains.  It's unchanged.  But I don't know when
     that Bill will be presented.  I really don't know when."

     "It's too early for concern. ... The Bill itself is fine. 
     It's a question of timing which will have to take into
     account the whole of the legislative agenda of the
     government."

What next?

    The House of Commons resumes sitting on February 6, 1995. 
     We need to flood the Prime Minister's office with faxes,
     phone calls, letters to demand the immediate introduction of
     the amendments.

    The Budget is likely to be released at the end of February
     (yet to be confirmed).  The wake of the budget will be the
     next window of opportunity for introduction of the
     amendments.

This information provided to the internet on behalf of EGALE -
Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere.

Please repost elsewhere if appropriate.