Motz explains vote against conversion therapy ban

By KELLEN TANIGUCHI on June 26, 2021.

ktaniguchi@medicinehatnews.com@@kellentaniguchi

Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner’s MP was one of 63 Members of Parliament to vote against a bill banning the practice of conversion therapy in Canada, however Glen Motz says he is against conversion therapy but that the “Liberal legislation” known as Bill C-6 has a vague definition, which is why he couldn’t support the bill Tuesday.

The bill passed by a vote of 263-63.

Motz says some suggest his vote sent a message, and assumptions have been made that aren’t true.

“I have spent a lifetime defending the equal rights of others, for everyone to be treated fairly with dignity and respect regardless of lifestyle or orientation and I will continue to do so,” he said. ” … Let me be very, very, very clear. I am adamantly opposed to coercive conversion therapy.”

Motz says the bill was studied and scrutinized by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in fall 2020, where concern was brought up and an amendment was brought forward seeking better clarification of the definition of conversion therapy to target coercive practices based on the justice department’s own website.

However, Motz says the suggested amendment to Bill C-6 did not make it into the final version.

The local MP says he’s concerned that those who engage in discussions with someone coming to terms with their sexual identity could be seen as criminal under Bill C-6.

“I am also concerned there is a strong possibility that certain faith based activities, such as youth groups … pastoral or teacher counselling, as well as even doctors, mental health professionals, friends or family members who provide supports to a person struggling with their sexual orientation, sexual feelings or gender identity may fall within the definition of the proposed law.”

Motz says his vote on C-6 isn’t an isolated case. He says, for example, he supported certain ideas in the latest budget but didn’t support the legislation as a whole.

Not everyone in the Conservative Party caucus voted against the bill, as 51 CPC members showed their support – including party leader Erin O’Toole. Motz says having his political party split the vote doesn’t concern him – in fact it is a good thing.

“What other party do you know in federal politics that allows members to have freedom to vote on matters like this? None. Zero,” said Motz. “That’s what Canadians want. As I told you, we had hundreds and hundreds of people call and email us about their position and arguments … all of them were the same and said, ‘we have concerns about the language in this bill and please either amend the language,’ which we tried and it was rejected, ‘or vote against it.'”

Motz says a CPC government would ensure the ban of conversion therapy remains in place, but would also clean up the language to put people at ease when having these conversations.

14
-13