Trudeau appoints Special Advisor on LGBTQ2

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By Femi Shodunke

CANADA: PRIME Minister, Justin Trudeau, has named Randy Boissonnault, a Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, as his Special Advisor on LGBTQ2 issues.

Mr. Boissonnault’s principal role, according to a news release from the Prime Minister Office (PMO), will be to advise the Prime Minister on the development and co-ordination of the Government of Canada’s LGBTQ2 agenda.

“This will include working with LGBTQ2 organizations from across the country to promote equality for the LGBTQ2 community, protect the rights of its members, and address discrimination against them – both historical and current,” the PMO said in the release of today’s appointment.

It explained: “This kind of discrimination was documented in a report recently released by Egale Canada Human Rights Trust (Egale) on June 10, 2016, entitled “The Just Society Report”. The Government of Canada welcomed this report, supports the values, principles, and objectives it espouses, and will work with Egale and other partners to take action against the discrimination the report describes.

“The actions being announced today are part of the Government of Canada’s overall efforts to ensure that all Canadian citizens are treated equally and with respect.

“Another important measure it took in May 2016 was tabling historic legislation (Bill C-16) to recognize and reduce the vulnerability of trans and other gender-diverse persons to discrimination, hate propaganda, and hate crimes, and to affirm their equal status in Canadian society. The Government also intends to repeal section 159 of the Criminal Code.”

The release further said: “Canada is also actively promoting LGBTQ2 rights on the international stage. It is funding and implementing LGBTQ2-related projects abroad supporting violence-prevention programs, awareness-raising campaigns and advocacy efforts, including initiatives aimed to combat homophobia and transphobia in education systems.”

Trudeau stated that his administration had made significant strides to secure legal rights for members of the LGBTQ2 in the country.

His words: “We have made great strides in securing legal rights for the LGBTQ2 community in Canada – from enshrining equality rights in the Charter to the passage of the Civil Marriage Act.

“But the fight to end discrimination is not over and a lot of hard work still needs to be done. Canadians know our country is made stronger because of our diversity, not in spite of it.”

Similarly, the new Special Advisor said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be named to this role. I will work hard with the Prime Minister and the LGBTQ2 community to advance and protect their rights and address historical injustices they have endured.”

“I look forward to collaborating closely with Egale and other organizations in the coming months to advance the government’s agenda for equality,” Boissonnault stressed.