[Canadian politics] House of Commons petition E-7027

[yuuago]

Petition E-7027 to the Minister of Health

The above is a House of Commons petition to the Federal Minister of Health in response to Alberta and Saskatchewan passing anti-trans bills and using the Notwithstanding clause to shield the legislation from judicial review.

It's open until February 18 for all residents of Canada. You don't need to have citizenship or permanent resident status to sign; you just need to live here. (So, someone here as a student can sign.)

Please note that if you sign you have to confirm it via the link that gets emailed to you.

I've discussed federal response with people from the local pride org, including the possibility of using Section 90 to force a repeal, and the feeling is very... mixed. On the one hand, we want the legislation gone. On the other hand, if the federal government acted, it would be very in-character for the UCP to find some way to retaliate against trans Albertans. Not to mention the vibe in the province in general is pretty appalling at the moment (re: separatist movements) and there is no question that it would get worse if the federal government acted in any way. But like... I sure as hell don't have any other ideas, so. E-7027 it is.

Full text of the petition:

Petition to the Minister of Health
Whereas:

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms exists to protect individuals and minority communities from discriminatory laws;

Recent legislation enacted by the Governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan restricts the rights, dignity, and safety of transgender and gender-diverse people, particularly children and youth, including access to gender-affirming and medically appropriate health care;

These provincial governments have invoked the notwithstanding clause to shield such legislation from judicial review, thereby preventing Charter challenges from being meaningfully heard;

The Constitution Act, 1867 provides the federal government, through section 90, with the authority to disallow certain provincial legislation in order to protect constitutional principles and minority rights; and

The use of extraordinary constitutional powers to limit Charter protections warrants careful federal review and response.

We, the undersigned, Concerned Allies of Transgender Canadians, call upon the Minister of Health to Recommend and support, within Cabinet, the exercise of the Government of Canada’s constitutional authority, including the power of disallowance under section 90 of the Constitution Act, 1867, to annul or repeal provincial legislation enacted in Alberta and Saskatchewan that restricts the rights of transgender and gender-diverse people and has been shielded from Charter scrutiny through the use of the notwithstanding clause, and to affirm the federal government’s responsibility to uphold Charter rights across Canada.