Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released the mandate letters for each of the 37 cabinet Ministers of his minority Liberal government. The following excerpts relate to the governments priorities specifically for the LGBTQ2 community.
Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Mandate Letter
As Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, you will support the Government’s work to build a country where every person has equal opportunity to succeed, championing the full breadth of Canada’s vibrant diversity and advancing greater inclusion. This will include leading the multiculturalism and anti-racism programs and activities within Canadian Heritage and assuming responsibilities from me for policies and programs in support of LGBTQ2 and Youth….
Continue the work of the LGBTQ2 Secretariat in promoting LGBTQ2 equality, protecting LGBTQ2 rights and addressing discrimination against LGBTQ2 communities.
Provide additional investments to LGBTQ2 organizations to hire staff, expand services and reach more people. This includes hotlines and other support services for LGBTQ2 communities, including those that provide sexual health information.
Work with the Minister of Health, and in partnership with Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec, to build on existing progress to implement a behaviour-based model of donation that eliminates the blood ban for men who have sex with other men.
Consult civil society representatives of LGBTQ2 communities to lay the groundwork for an LGBTQ2 action plan that would guide the work of the federal government on issues important to LGBTQ2 Canadians.
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Mandate Letter
Work to sustain historic Government funding commitments to Canadian women’s organizations and equality-seeking groups, with a particular focus on vulnerable women, including Indigenous women, women with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ2 communities and newcomer, racialized and migrant women.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Mandate Letter
Work with the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth to amend the Criminal Code to ban the practice of conversion therapy and take other steps required with the provinces and territories to end conversion therapy in Canada.
Develop options for legal remedies for victims of hate speech.
Work with the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to combat online hate and harassment.