Egale: Urgent Action Alert!!

March 2003

Justice Committee to Travel Across Canada

Q: What’s up?

A Parliamentary Justice Committee is about to travel across Canada to hear public opinion on same-sex marriage, and we need your help!

The Committee will receive input from Canadians on whether the federal government should maintain the ban on same-sex marriage—or change the law to provide us with equality.

Already, anti-GLBT groups are rallying opposition to our equality rights in communities across Canada, and your voice will be crucial if we are to turn the tide.

Q. What can I do to help?

Ask to appear before the Justice Committee when it comes to your region. You don’t have to be an expert to appear—you just to have to care about equality. Even if you don’t wish to speak, please show up at the meeting to support those who are presenting.

In addition, the Committee needs to hear from supporters outside the LGBT communities—encourage your parents, family-members, children, friends, employer, union, local minister or rabbi or others to appear before the Committee as well.

Egale is here to help and support you through the process, and will have representatives at all of the hearings.

Q. How do I appear before the Committee?

To appear before the Committee, contact the Committee Clerk to reserve your place as soon as possible:

Patrice Martin, Clerk
Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
House of Commons
Room 622, 180 Wellington
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613 996-1553
Fax: 613 992-9069
E mail: just@parl.gc.ca

Timing is tight, since those interested in appearing should contact the Committee Clerk by Friday, March 14. If there are still spaces available after that date, you may still be accepted to appear, but it’s essentially first-come, first-served, so please: act today!

Q. Where are the Committee meetings taking place?

The hearings will take place at the following locations and dates:

BC: Vancouver April 1;
AB: Edmonton April 2;
SK: Moose Jaw April 3;
MB: Steinbach April 4;
NS: Halifax April 7;
NB: Sussex April 8;
ON: Sudbury April 9;
ON: Toronto April 10 & 11;
QC: Rimouski April 28;
QC: Montreal April 29;
NU: Iqaluit April 30.

If the Committee is not appearing in your town or city, you can apply to appear at the location nearest you. For example, community-members from all across B.C. or from the Yukon could apply to be heard at the Vancouver meeting.

Q. What support exists?

If you are accepted as a witness, the Committee will pay your travel and related expenses.

For additional information, you can contact me (Kim Vance, Equal Marriage Coordinator) at kim@egale.ca or equalmarriage@egale.ca, or by phone at 902-889-2288. Please also let me know if you are accepted to appear before the Committee.

You can also contact Egale’s office toll-free at 1-888-204-7777, or check out our Equal Marriage Website at http://www.egale.ca/equalmarriage.asp for copies of Egale’s lobbying kit, our brief to the Parliamentary Committee, or to make a donation.

Now is the time to make our voices heard!

Thanks for your support—we couldn’t do it without you!

Sincerely,

Kim Vance
Equal Marriage Coordinator

Egale Canada ©2011

Canada's LGBT human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice.