Anti-conversion therapy draft bylaw goes to Saskatoon city council

A draft bylaw that could eventually prohibit any Saskatoon business or individual from practising conversion therapy will now go to city council for consideration.

Conversion therapy is counselling, behaviour modification, treatment, services etc., used for the purpose of changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or repressing/reducing non-heterosexual sexual attraction.

During Monday’s governance and priorities meeting, councillors voted 8-2 to receive the bylaw and to forward it to city council.

Last spring, city council directed the city solicitor to come up with the new bylaw.

If approved by city council, there would be fines of up to $10,000 for individuals or up to $25,000 for corporations, along with a suspension of business licences for up to three months.

Resident Mary Riendeau made a presentation to the committee asking that the draft bylaw not go forward, citing several parts of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“The proposed bylaw discriminates against those with traditional religious beliefs about sexuality and marriage … In passing this bylaw, city council would be breaching their duty of neutrality under Sec. 2 (a), by showing preference for certain sexual values and morals over others,” she said. “Imposing sexual values is not the role of city council.”

Coun. Darren Hill pointedly told Riendeau he would not address some of the comments in her presentation, but asked her whether she knew how many religious leaders asked for bans on conversion therapy.

“I have no idea,” she answered. “But I know from experience which churches — the church I’m a part of, definitely the Canadian bishops, have spoken out against this. So it is not in your jurisdiction as city council to do what you’re wanting to do.”

“The answer is 370 religious leaders,” said Hill. “My responsibility is to protect every citizen in Saskatoon. When it comes to youth that are being forced into conversion therapy, I take that responsibility seriously.”

However, prior to the vote, councillors Randy Donauer and David Kirton also cited concerns with the city potentially “overstepping” its boundaries.

“I hear those who have suffered and who have concerns about abuse, and I believe that there needs to be a solution for that,” Donauer explained. “But I don’t think the city is the solution for everybody’s issue. The constitution lays out authorities within Canada and there are certain things the provincial government and the federal government are responsible for — and we’re responsible for running a city.”

He added the city solicitor has not recommended implementing the new draft bylaw at this point either.

Kirton echoed the constitutional and jurisdictional concerns.

“I feel that our city is jumping ahead of the proper jurisdiction that should be doing this — and that’s the federal government,” he said. “I feel that what we are doing could actually be dangerous in the long term for our LGBTQ2ISA+ neighbours because once we start this, if we have the wrong wording on this … all of a sudden a bylaw that has no teeth creates undue expectations.”

However, Hill, who supported the vote, said the city had heard directly from those concerned about conversion therapy in public forums, and the bylaw is what they want.

“Right now, there’s nothing to stop this from happening to youth within the city of Saskatoon,” Hill said. “This is the only thing until the federal government gets their law (Bill C-6) in place, and I can’t wait until that happens.”

The federal government has passed second reading of Bill C-6, but it since has been tabled. When parliament resumes at the end of the month, it may once again be brought forward.

Several Canadian cities — including Vancouver, Calgary, Lethbridge and Edmonton — have passed bylaws banning businesses from practising conversion therapy.