Bill C-16 amends the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code. It adds "gender identity" and "gender expression" to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act. This means people cannot be discriminated against based on their gender identity or how they express their gender.
In the Criminal Code, the bill extends protection against hate propaganda to any group distinguished by gender identity or expression. It also makes it clear that if a crime is motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate based on someone's gender identity or expression, this is an aggravating factor that the court must consider when deciding on a sentence.
In short, the bill aims to protect transgender and gender diverse individuals from discrimination and hate, ensuring they have equal rights and protections under Canadian law.
Crime
This bill updates the Criminal Code to include gender identity and expression in hate crime laws. If a crime is found to be motivated by hate or prejudice against someone's gender identity or expression, the court must consider it as a reason for a harsher sentence.