Gareth Madoc-Jones, Centetown News
Ottawa Centre candidates participated in a debate at the National Gallery Friday evening, addressing LGBTQ issues in the communityFor the first time, candidates from the Ottawa Centre riding took part in an election forum dealing exclusively with the issues most important to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. The debate took place Friday evening at the National Gallery of Canada.
Paul Dewar (NDP), Catherine McKenna (Liberal) and Tom Milroy (Green Party) were involved in the debate. Damian Konstantinakos (Conservative Party) and other Conservative candidates in the region declined the opportunity to participate in the forum. Ottawa Centre candidates from the Libertarian Party, Communist Party and the Marijuana Party were not invited. The Rhinocerous party candidate officially entered the election after this debate.
The format allowed for local community groups to ask candidates a range of questions on issues such as transgender rights, HIV criminalization laws and support services for youth at risk in the LBGTQ Community.
During the discussion, there was common ground on revisiting bill C-279, an act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to include gender identity provisions. All three candidates felt this was important in helping to protect transgender communities.
One of the issues where there appeared to be a difference in policy between candidates is the decriminalization of HIV non-disclosure. Both the NDP and the Green Party candidates felt the criminalization of not disclosing HIV status prior to sex should end. Dewar said, “The stigma that goes with being positive and not being understood, or accepted means that we are actually driving people down.” He added, “We need to understand each other, and not criminalize status because it isn’t working. It’s just not working.”
Milroy pointed to educating the public as an appropriate strategy. “Education is key with regard to transmission of HIV and the government should be taking a leadership role in that particular area.”
McKenna on the other hand spent much of her time answering the question by criticizing the Conservative government’s approach toward creating new laws. When she did talk briefly about decriminalization it wasn’t entirely clear. “There are going to be situations where there are problems. We have seen a couple situations like that, but this is where you have discretion of judges. You don’t criminalize this particular behaviour.” She went on to say, “It’s really up to a judge. A judge can identify, can listen to the circumstances, and then actually come with appropriate punishment, or appropriate means.” At the moment she said this, an audience member interrupted McKenna asking her to “answer the question please.” Once the moderator queued McKenna to continue, she replied, “I think I have sort of said my piece.”
On other issues directly impacting LGBTQ communities, such as funding for the arts, ending homelessness and helping refugees, the three parties had varying levels of support. No party was offering specific dollar amount commitments or figures.
The audience also had the opportunity to ask the candidates individual questions. Dewar was asked what the NDP would do to decriminalize the sex trade. He said his party would repeal the current legislation to protect sex trade workers. “What we would want to replace this horrible legislation you see in front of us is with is something that is going to protect, make sure the rights are there.” Dewar also said it will be important to consult with the sex trade community to create new legislation.
When Catherine McKenna was asked about how the Liberals would create more space for LGBTQ communities, she said her party has talked about having a youth council with LGBTQ members on it. “We need members of all sorts of diverse communities to be out there in leadership roles because it inspires people.” McKenna said the youth council would help to advise her party’s leadership.
All three candidates also responded to a question not related to LGBTQ issues, but on improving the quality of life for aboriginals. Tom Milroy says there is a need to respect the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report. “It’s an opportunity to reopen discussions about the fundamental nature of relationship nation to nation, between First Nations and government. And we must seize this opportunity as soon as possible.”
After the forum wrapped up, one of the co-organizers of the event suggests he is cautiously optimistic commitments from any of the candidates will come to life after Oct. 19. Jeremy Dias, the Director of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity says he hopes there will be change, but when he looks at statistics from the 1980s he says suicide rates, homeless rates, drop out rates, drug and alcohol rates haven’t changed. Dias is hoping the greater Ottawa-Gatineau community will take note of this. “These are life and death issues for some people.”