By Robin Perelle
A Concise Timeline of Change in Canada
December 1977:
Québec becomes the first province in Canada to prohibit
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in its human rights code.
December 1986:
Ontario changes its human rights code, banning discrimination on
the
basis of sexual orientation.
1987:
Manitoba and the Yukon Territory extend protection to gays, lesbians and
bisexuals
in their jurisdictions, banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in their human rights codes.
July 1991:
Nova Scotia amends its human rights code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
June 1992:
British Columbia and New Brunswick ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in their human rights codes.
July 1993:
Saskatchewan extends protection to lesbians, bisexuals and gay men in its jurisdiction by banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in its human rights code.
May 1996:
The federal government bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in its human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act.
July 1997:
The government of British Columbia expands its definition of "spouse" to
include
individuals in same-sex relationships. Though the change applies primarily to the province's
Family
Relations Act, the government promises "a comprehensive review" of all its laws.
December 1997:
Newfoundland amends its human rights code to ban discrimination
on
the basis of sexual orientation.
April 1998:
The Supreme Court of Canada rules that Alberta's refusal to ban
discrimination
on the basis of sexual orientation violates of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. After a tense
round of
debates in Premier Klein's cabinet, the government of Alberta decides not to defy the Supreme
Court
by invoking its notwithstanding clause, and promises to change its human rights code.
1998:
Prince Edward Island amends its human rights code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
May 1999:
The
Supreme Court of Canada rules that same-sex couples are entitled to the
same rights as unmarried heterosexual couples.
Several governments, including the governments of Ontario, Newfoundland and Manitoba,
promise to expand their definition of "spouse" to extend equal benefits to same-sex couples.
June 1999:
The government
of
Québec becomes the first in Canada to change the definition of "spouse" in all its
laws --
extending spousal benefits, recognition and responsibilities to same-sex couples throughout
Québec.
July 1999:
The government of British Columbia passes the Definition of Spouse Act to ensure that same-sex couples are treated equally in wills, estates and inheritances. The province already granted same-sex couples equal spousal benefits in areas such as family support, pensions and adoptions two years ago.
October 1999:
Ontario reluctantly offers people in same-sex couples some spousal-type benefits in accordance with the Supreme Court of Canada's "M vs H" ruling, but refuses to call them spouses. The province sets up a separate category for same-sex "partners" instead.
Gay and lesbian rights advocates say the new law reinforces the distinction between opposite-sex and same-sex couples, and vow to take Ontario back to the Supreme Court of Canada.
April 2000:
The federal government passes Bill C-23 giving same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as common-law opposite-sex couples.
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