A brief on Bill C-6: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)

By Harish Raju, Research Volunteer, and Ian Bushfield, Executive Director
June 22, 2021

The BC Humanist Association (BCHA) supports efforts to ban all forms of conversion therapy and applauds the government’s efforts to do so under Bill C-6. Such therapies (1) can potentially cause mental and physical harm, (2) infringe upon an individual’s right to life, liberty and security of the person and (3) are not scientifically proven to be successful in changing sexual orientation. We welcome the amendments made by the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to improve the bill. As all forms of conversion therapy practices are abusive, we urge Parliamentarians to continue to strengthen provisions that presume a reasonable adult could consent to the practice.