Carney laments Pride 'backlash' and rolls out money to make 2SLGBTQ+ parades safer
CBC
Prime Minister Mark Carney raised a Pride flag on Parliament Hill Tuesday to kick off a month-long celebration of sexual and gender diversity while saying there's a brewing "backlash" to these sorts of celebrations and federal money is needed to help make 2SLGBTQ+ parades safe this year.
Speaking to a couple hundred MPs, senators, political staffers, community activists and others gathered on Parliament Hill for the occasion, Carney said there's been progress in the struggle for equal rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans people but the community is still in a sometimes "precarious" position.
"One of the strengths of Canada is recognizing that people can be who they want to be and love who they want to love. The federal government — we are the defenders of those rights," Carney said.
"Unfortunately, around the world, there's a backlash struggling against the progress that has been made. In this time, Canada will always stand up for the vulnerable and the equal rights we cherish. We can take pride in how far we've come but we should also recognize there's far more to do."
Statistics Canada data suggests there's been a sizable uptick in hate crimes targeting sexual orientation. According to the latest figures, there were 860 such police-reported hate crimes in 2023 — a 69 per cent spike from the year before — with gays and lesbians the most likely targets.
These police-reported crimes were most likely to occur in June — Pride month — according to Statistics Canada. There were 224 such incidents that month in 2023, about four times higher than the average (58 incidents) for the other months of the year.
To that end, Carney said the federal government is making money available to Fierté Canada Pride, the organization that represents local groups who put on 2SLGBTQ+ festivals across the country, to make them safer with hateful incidents a more common occurrence than years' past.
About $1.5 million in federal funds will be used to help Pride organizers address the rising cost of safety and insurance for these events, according to Women and Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez.
"Everyone deserves to feel safe and supported in their community," Valdez said.
As some countries, including the U.S., try to roll back trans rights in particular, Carney said Canada will "stand up for rights around the world."
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a series of executive actions, including an order that the federal government there recognize only two sexes — male and female — stop the promotion of "gender ideology" and instruct schools to stop helping kids with gender transition.
Pride Toronto, which stages one of the largest such festivals in the world, has lost some major corporate sponsors this year, including from American businesses like Google and Home Depot.
The group's executive director has said the loss of support could be connected to an executive order issued by Trump in January that ordered an end to all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities in the U.S. government.
Those companies may be removing themselves from public support of 2SLGBTQ+ organizations because they fear losing U.S. government support, Pride Toronto has said.
Scientists say they know why pregnant women may reach for a THC gummy or joint.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he's not worried about the prospect of increased oil production from Venezuela challenging Canada's energy exports because Canadian oil is cheaper, cleaner and lower-risk.
The District of Vanderhoof, says it is now feeling the full financial impacts of Canfor’s 2024 Plateau sawmill closure and is facing a substantial loss of tax revenue for 2026.
As part of a series of concerts scheduled around the city in the lead up to the Juno Awards, Rollie Pemberton is excited to “hype up Hamilton as a really great music city,” and debut some new tunes.
It was a rocky year for Windsor. But it was a good year for minivans built in Canada's car capital.
An international organization that often finds itself at the centre of human rights conflicts in developing countries has turned its attention to a small town in southwest Nova Scotia.
Tuesday is expected to be a slippery one as Environment Canada is warning freezing rain is expected over the course of several hours.
Bishop Joseph Dabrowski is moving on from the Diocese of Charlottetown in early February to continue his work in Ontario.
The catchphrase going into Tuesday's coalition of the willing meeting on Ukraine in Paris appears to be: expect the unexpected.
A regime change in Venezuela could both help that country regain its former prominence as an oil producer and pose a threat to Canada’s industry, which is producing record amounts of oil and is expected to continue to grow for several more years.
Health Canada says it is reviewing nine submissions for generic versions of popular weight loss medications that pharmaceutical experts say could bring down the price.
Premier Doug Ford says he will make changes to residential recycling collection if needed after the province's newly privatized system had a rough start in Toronto, with some full blue bins sitting uncollected as of Monday.
Drivers in Ontario caught operating a vehicle while impaired will face tougher penalties that no longer need the determination of a judge.