>> Laurel Collins, MP for Victoria

Victoria is a place that is home to diverse, engaging and socially minded citizens. I was recently reminded of the compassion, commitment and inclusion of so many people in our community when I attended the No Space for Hate rally at the Legislature on September 20th. Thousands of individuals across Canada gathered to show their love and support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as a response to the rising hate that has been directed towards Trans people.

Across the country Conservative leaders have recently been stoking this hate with dangerous discriminatory policies. My NDP colleagues and I will continue to stand with Trans and gender-diverse people of all ages and from all backgrounds. We know that everyone deserves to feel safe and to have the freedom to be true to who they are. We will continue to listen to the concerns and proposed solutions raised by the queer community, as we push for legislation that better protects everyone.

My New Democrat colleagues and I are pushing for 29 concrete actions that would affect positive, long-term changes for generations to come. This includes sufficient, stable funding for both organizations serving Trans and gender-diverse people, while remaining sensitive to their intersectional differences. We also need all levels of government to make comprehensive gender-affirming care a reality across Canada, with the goal to eventually provide this care under a federal universal healthcare plan. Our NDP team is also calling for the government to take a clear stance against anti-Trans hate and violence, to increase capacity funding for lifesaving mental health supports like the Trans Lifeline and to provide targeted funding for research and innovation in gender-affirming surgeries. The full details of the 29 recommendations can be found at randallgarrison.ndp.ca/resources.

There is no place for hatred in Canada and we must continue to lead with love and courage while taking collective action to address systemic issues of violence against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

If you are experiencing injustice of any kind, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My team is available to assist you and can be reached at 250-363-3600 and laurel.collins@parl.gc.ca.