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Queer Ontario continues to strongly support the amending of the Ontario Human Rights Code to include “gender identity” and “gender expression” as recognized and thus protected grounds within Ontario. We are pleased that the Bill is being sponsored by representatives of all three parties and expect that it will go through…
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Monday, June 11, 2011
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The Standing Committee on Social Policy at Queen’s Park is holding public hearings today (in Committee Room 1)  to receive thoughts, concerns, and commentary on Bill 33, also known as Toby’s Act. The bill seeks to amend the Ontario Human Rights Code to include ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ as protected grounds: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2574
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The hearings are set to begin at 2:oo pm. The Committee agenda is as follows:

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2:00 pm   Report of the Sub-committee on Committee Business

————-   Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
————-   Doris Grinspun, Chief Executive Officer

2:15 pm   Queer Ontario
————-   Nick Mulé, Chair; Casey Oraa, Vice-Chair; and Davina Hader, Member At-Large.

2:30 pm   Christen Milloy

2:45 pm   Ontario Human Rights Commission
————-   Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner

3:00 pm   EGALE Canada
————— Helen Kennedy, Executive Director

3:15 pm   The Trans Lobby Group
————-   Susan Gapka, Chair

5:00 pm   Clause-by-Clause Consideration

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Next Steps
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The Bill will be given its third and final reading on Wednesday, June 13 at 9:00 am. Given its unanimous approval during second reading, the Bill is expected to pass this third time around with very few, if any, opposition.
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If you haven’t already done so, please call, fax, or email your Member of Provincial Parliament, asking them to vote in favour of the Bill. A list of current MPPs, with links to their contact information, can be found here: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en
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If you are unsure of who your MPP is, then you can locate your Riding here http://fyed.elections.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp and search for it in the MPP list above.
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Every vote counts, so please encourage your contacts to do the same.
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We wish you the best in your politicking adventures!
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The Queer Ontario Steering Committee
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We have just been informed by MPP Cheri DiNovo that Bill 33 will be given its third and final reading on Wednesday, June 13 at 9 AM. A vote is expected to follow directly after.

Bill 33 — or Toby’s Act — will amend the Ontario Human Rights Code to include ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ as protected grounds. More information on the Bill can be found here: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2574

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A Final Call to Action

If you haven’t already done so, please call, fax, or email your Member of Provincial Parliament to ask them to vote in favour of the Bill. A list of current MPPs, with links to their contact information, can be found here: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en

If you are unsure of who your MPP is, then you can locate your Riding here http://fyed.elections.on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp and search for it in the MPP list above.

And, of course: encourage your contacts to do the same.

We wish you the best in your politicking adventures!

The Queer Ontario Steering Committee
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