Election 2006

Grading the Parties and their Leaders

As in with previous elections, Egale has examined Canada’s political parties for their policies affecting the LGBT community. A letter grade is assigned to each party based on voting patterns, party leadership, and official policies.

Parties are listed in order of the letter grade of their party leader.

New Democratic Party

Leader – Jack Layton
Jack Layton had given a lifetime of unwavering, active support and leadership in the struggle for LGBT equality, including supporting equal marriage in every way possible. He did not allow a free vote, and punished former NDP MP Bev Desjarlais for voting against equal marriage. As a result she chose to leave the party and sit as an Independent.

Jack Layton champions other LGBT issues, including providing explicit protection for trans people in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the National Day Against Homophobia. As a Toronto city councillor he marched for years in the local Pride parade.

Party Policy
It has long been NDP party policy: “that an NDP federal government would, within its first mandate, introduce legislation, without a free vote, to make same-sex marriage legal; and that should the issue come before the House, members of the NDP caucus shall vote in favour of same-sex marriage”. Egale is not aware of party policy on other LGBT issues.

Caucus
Grade on LGBT issues: 100% on equal marriage; 100% on hate propaganda
Based on the percentage of times MPs voted in favour of legislation furthering equality for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, versus those that voted against. Absences are not included. The NDP ranked first of the four parties with elected MPs. 100% is a perfect score.

The current NDP caucus voted unanimously for both equal marriage and hate propaganda protection. Bill Siksay introduced a private members bill to explicitly protect trans people in the Canadian Human Rights Act and is committed to re-introducing the bill in the next Parliament should he be re-elected. This bill has the support of the NDP caucus.

Bloc Quebecois

Leader – Gilles Duceppe
Gilles Duceppe was personally a strong supporter of the equal marriage bill and equality for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people generally, and spoke eloquently about why equal marriage was the right thing to do. He enjoys a perfect voting record in Parliament on LGBT issues.

Party Policy
The Bloc does not currently have an approved policy for or against equal marriage. The Party’s position is that it supports equal marriage, but that this is a moral issue and so MPs have a free vote. Egale is not aware of party policy on other LGBT issues.

Caucus
Grade: 87% on equal marriage; 95% on hate propaganda
Based on the percentage of times MPs voted in favour of legislation furthering equality for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, versus those that voted against. Absences are not included. The Bloc caucus ranked second of the four parties with elected MPs. 100% is a perfect score.

Liberal Party

Leader – Paul Martin
Paul Martin provided effective leadership on equal marriage. His government introduced the equal marriage bill (Bill C-38) and he overcame Conservative delay tactics and threats from some in his own caucus to win its passage. Mr. Martin spoke eloquently about the need for the equal marriage bill in order to comply with the Charter.

Paul Martin’s government is generally supportive of advances in trans equality. His government also supports the National Day Against Homophobia.

Party Policy
On March 5, 2005, the Liberal Party overwhelmingly approved a policy urging the Government of Canada “to continue to support civil marriage legislation that will recognize the equality rights of all Canadians” and that it “develop strategies to educate the Canadian public as to the issue of basic human rights with regard to same sex marriage.” This policy does not bind MPs in how they vote. Egale is not aware of party policy on other LGBT issues.

Caucus
Grade: 73% on equal marriage; 69% on hate propaganda
Based on the percentage of times MPs voted in favour of legislation furthering equality for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, versus those that voted against. Absences are not included. The Liberal caucus ranked third of the four parties with elected MPs. 100% is a perfect score.

The Liberal caucus is divided on LGBT issues, with many strong supporters and quite a number of strong opponents.

Green Party

Leader – Jim Harris
Mr. Harris is a solid supporter of LGBT equality but has not yet been put to the test in Parliament. He has, however, instituted a candidate screening process to ensure all candidates support full equality for LGBT people.

Following introduction of the equal marriage legislation Jim Harris issued a strongly worded press release noting his personal support for the legislation, as well as the support of the Party. Other press releases in support of equal marriage followed.

Party Policy
The Green Party was the first federal party to adopt a policy in favour of equal marriage, passing a motion in 1996 that “a Green Party government implement federal legislation that recognizes gay and lesbian marriages and common law relationships.” (The federal government gave comprehensive recognition to same-sex common-law relationships in 2000.)

From 1990 to 1996, the Green Party was led by Chris Lea, the first openly gay political party leader in Canada.

The Green Party also has a policy which supports “a new vision of citizenship built on equal rights for all individuals regardless of gender, race, age, religion, class, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, disability, wealth or health.”

Caucus:
The Green Party does not currently have any elected MPs. During the last election, more Green Party candidates filled out Egale’s election survey than candidates from any other party, and all who did were very supportive of LGBT equality. Egale has been advised that two potential candidates in B.C. were screened out due to their opposition to equal marriage, meaning all the remaining candidates should be supportive.

Conservative Party

Leader – Stephen Harper
While Mr. Harper has long opposed advances in equality, for the first time ever he is seeking to take away equality rights. On the first day of the election campaign Stephen Harper told reporters that if he becomes Prime Minister he will re-open the issue in Parliament, with the goal of introducing legislation defining marriage as a man and a woman. He maintains that he can do this without using the notwithstanding clause, despite the consensus of legal experts who say he is not being honest with Canadians.

Each time a vote on LGBT equality was before Parliament, Mr. Harper voted against, including on protection from being fired because of sexual orientation and hate crime protection. Stephen Harper’s statement that he supports equality rings hollow in light of the fact that he has consistently voted against the inclusion of LGBT people.

Stephen Harper voted against the equal marriage bill but allowed a free vote for MPs. He used every trick in the book to delay passage of the equal marriage bill and appeared across the country at rallies opposing equal marriage.

Mr. Harper has stated that he will provide equivalent legal rights and responsibilities in a separate legal regime. He has refused to acknowledge that the Supreme Court said the federal government has no jurisdiction to create a relationship recognition scheme that is separate from marriage.

Mr. Harper claims that opening up civil marriage to same-sex couples is not a human rights issue, but rather “what we are really talking about, sexual behaviour” (Hansard, September 16, 2003).

Mr. Harper maintains that the Charter does not protect people based on sexual orientation.

Party Policy
On March 19, 2005 the Conservative Party voted in favour of a resolution stating “a Conservative Government will support legislation defining marriage as one man and one woman.” The vote was 75% in favour of this resolution and 25% against. This policy does not bind MPs in how they vote. Egale is not aware of party policy on other LGBT issues.

Caucus
Grade on LGBT issues: 3% on equal marriage; 3% on hate propaganda
Based on the percentage of times MPs voted in favour of legislation furthering equality for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, versus those that voted against. Absences are not included. The Conservative caucus ranked last of the four parties with elected MPs. 100% is a perfect score.

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