SoVote

Bill C-285

44th Parl. 1st Sess.

December 13, 2022

Bill C-285, also known as the Medical Freedom Act, seeks to amend several existing laws in Canada. It adds conscientious belief and medical history as prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act. This means that individuals cannot be discriminated against based on their beliefs or medical history. The bill also specifies that if someone is denied transportation services due to their medical history, the discrimination is only considered reasonable if accommodating the individual would impose undue hardship on the service provider. Furthermore, the bill prohibits employers from taking reprisals against employees based on decisions they make regarding their health. Employers are required to accommodate these employees if certain conditions are met. Lastly, the bill amends the Employment Insurance Act to ensure that claimants are not disqualified from receiving benefits if they lost their employment solely

Steelman Argument in Favor of Bill C-285: Bill C-285, also known as the Medical Freedom Act, seeks to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Canada Labour Code, and the Employment Insurance Act to protect individuals' rights to conscientious belief and medical history. This legislation recognizes that discrimination based on these grounds limits individuals' opportunities and hinders their ability to make choices regarding their own health. One key amendment made by the bill is the addition of conscientious belief and medical history to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act. By including conscientious belief, the legislation ensures that individuals are not subject to discrimination or adverse treatment based on their sincerely held beliefs. This protects their freedom of thought, conscience, and beliefs, which are fundamental rights in a democratic society. Furthermore, the bill addresse

A steelman argument opposing this bill could be: The Medical Freedom Act, as proposed in Bill C-285, introduces amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Canada Labour Code, and the Employment Insurance Act. While the intention may be to protect individuals' rights and provide accommodations for their health decisions, there are concerns about the potential negative impact of these amendments. Firstly, adding conscientious belief and medical history as prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act may create legal ambiguities and open the door to potential abuses. It could lead to a flood of claims based on subjective beliefs or private medical information, making it difficult for employers and service providers to navigate and comply with the law. Additionally, the provision that discrimination against individuals with certain medical history, such as denial of transportation services, is only consider