Editor’s note:

This article was most recently updated because the e-petition is now open for signatures. Those wishing to sign can do so here.

CA — Ottawa, Ontario. On November 12, 2019, a Canadian woman created an e-petition requesting that the Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) Report on Bill C-16 be made public, and that Member of Parliament (MP) Candice Bergen authorize the publication of the petition on the petitions website of the House of Commons. Bill C-16, passed in June 2017, added “gender identity or expression” to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Despite previous requests from the Quebec feminist organization Pour les droits des femmes du Québec (PDF) asking for the GBA report, Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General at the time, informed PDF on September 20, 2017 that the GBA analysis was confidential, and thus she could not divulge the document.

A number of women are becoming increasingly concerned that “C-16 has been abused and weaponized by many rights-campaigners who have not been acting in good faith”.

My e-petition to the Government of Canada, has been submitted. It should be available for signatures on the House of Commons website in roughly 30 days. I’ll update when it is available. We need 500 signatures for it to be presented to the HOC and tabling a government response. pic.twitter.com/DmVbnI3GdL — Jennifer Anne (@JenniferAnne_s) November 12, 2019

On December 12, 2019, Jennifer Anne was informed that Ms Bergen had declined to authorize the publication of the e-petition, so Jennifer Anne sent it to MP Diane Finley.

The following week (December 20), Jennifer Anne emailed Ms Finley, cc’ing Prime Minister Trudeau, as well as MPs Jody Wilson-Raybould (currently an independent MP) and Candice Bergen. She also contacted Ms Finley’s office the same day.

*UPDATE* Here is the email that I sent to MP Diane Finley in regards to my e-petition for the GBA on Bill C-16.

I sent this email on December 20, 2019 (cc’d Justin Trudeau, Jody Wilson-Raybould and Candice Bergen) as well as contacted her office that same day. pic.twitter.com/ZLl6vbElr3 — Jennifer Anne (@JenniferAnne_s) December 29, 2019

Ms Finley has until January 12 to authorize or decline the petition. Jennifer Anne is asking Canadians to contact Ms Finley requesting that she authorize.

Contact Diane Finley’s office. Email her. Do whatever you can to get her to authorize the e-petition. Just like I have been. So stop trying to crack some code that I’ve somehow left out.

It’s a waste of precious time. January 12 is cut off day before it heads to new MP pic.twitter.com/h3Phq4su4F — Jennifer Anne (@JenniferAnne_s) January 4, 2020

Jennifer Anne has created sample letters that individuals can use in their correspondence to Diane Finley; these are available here.

Additionally, Twitter user @Dunn_Dufault emailed Diane Finley in December and has indicated that others may copy the email text:

My e-petition to the House of Commons for a Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) report be made public on Bill C-16. 30 days (deadline February 11, 2020) to hear from Mr. Alain Rayes MP on whether he will accept it. If he does authorize it, the e-petition will be uploaded to HOC website https://t.co/y4c9RfbaTA pic.twitter.com/3NwILcPbMh — Jennifer Anne (@JenniferAnne_s) January 12, 2020

Update:

On January 11, 2020, Jennifer Anne learned that Ms Finley had declined to authorize the publication of the e-petition; Jennifer Anne has now sent it to MP Alain Rayes. Mr Rayes has until February 11 to authorize or decline the petition. Jennifer Anne is asking Canadians to contact Mr Rayes requesting that he authorize.

My e-petition to the House of Commons for a Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) report be made public on Bill C-16. 30 days (deadline February 11, 2020) to hear from Mr. Alain Rayes MP on whether he will accept it. If he does authorize it, the e-petition will be uploaded to HOC website https://t.co/y4c9RfbaTA pic.twitter.com/3NwILcPbMh — Jennifer Anne (@JenniferAnne_s) January 12, 2020

Update #2:

On January 15, 2020 Jennifer Anne was informed by Mr Rayes’ assistant that Mr Rayes is not working on any files at the moment and does not do media or speeches in English. Mr Rayes is currently in Fredericton for English immersion classes.

The assistant had me explain Bill C-16 and how th e-petition works.

I lamented why a MP is not bilingual as there are English speaking Canadians in Quebec. I explained the urgency. He told me to find an English speaking MP. I take notes, everything I write is on record — Jennifer Anne (@JenniferAnne_s) January 15, 2020

Update #3:

On January 27, Jennifer Anne informed the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, that she had emailed every MP in Canada, and that within 15 minutes, three had already declined.

Mr Prime Minister @justintrudeau

I have sent you the email that every MP in Canada is waking up to this morning.

Within 15 mins I have been declined by 3 MP’s. Have you put out a warning email to everyone? #ReleaseTheGba

Supporting docs to followhttps://t.co/3enihS95L4 pic.twitter.com/8SOKI6OMsO — Jennifer Anne (@JenniferAnne_s) January 27, 2020

Jennifer is asking Canadians to contact their MP and ask them to authorize the e-petition.

🥂It’s been confirmed.

Derek Sloan MP, will be authorizing the e-petition. I’ll be transferring it to him on Wednesday, February 11, 2020 at 11pm (when time expires from Rayes) Thank you to everyone of you that reached out &made noise. You’re all amazing 💜💜#ReleaseTheGba 💐 — Jennifer Anne (@JenniferAnne_s) February 7, 2020

Update #5:

On February 14, 2020, the e-petition was posted on the House of Commons website. Canadians who would like to see the GBA report made public are asked to sign the petition available here.

The e-petition for the gender based analysis (GBA) report on Bill C-16 is now open for signatures!

Please take a look &if you agree that the public should have access to this information, you may sign it.

Closes on April 14, 2020 @ 10:33am #ReleaseTheGba

https://t.co/Hsp5QZbOwq — Jennifer Anne (@JenniferAnne_s) February 14, 2020

Contact information for Alain Rayes and Diane Finley is provided below for reference. Note that it is no longer necessary to contact either MP about this petition.

Alain Rayes

Email: [email protected]

Hill Office

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0A6

Telephone: 613-995-1554

Constituency Offices

Main office – Victoriaville

3 de la Gare Street

Victoriaville, Quebec G6P 6S4

Telephone: 819-751-1375

Windsor

11 Saint-Georges Street

Suite 200

Windsor, Quebec J1S 1J2

Telephone: 877-751-1375

Asbestos

349 Saint-Luc Blvd

Asbestos, Quebec

J1T 2W4

Telephone: 877-751-1375

Diane Finley

Email: [email protected]

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

(no postage required)

Phone: 613-996-4974

Constituency Main Office (Simcoe)

76 Kent Street South

Simcoe, ON N3Y 2Y1

Phone: 1-866-496-3400

Dunnville

231 Chestnut Street

Dunnville ON N1A 2H2

Phone: 1-866-496-3400