This enactment amends the Criminal Code to, among other things, create the following offences:

It also amends the Criminal Code to authorize courts to order that advertisements for conversion therapy be disposed of or deleted.

Preamble

Whereas conversion therapy causes harm to the persons, and in particular the children, who are subjected to it;

Whereas conversion therapy causes harm to society because, among other things, it is based on and propagates myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, including the myth that a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression ought to be changed;

And whereas, in light of those harms, it is important to discourage and denounce the provision of conversion therapy in order to protect the human dignity and equality of all Canadians;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

• (f) the representation, written material or recording, copies of which are kept in premises within the jurisdiction of the court, is an advertisement for conversion therapy.

Owner and maker may appear

(3) The owner and the maker of the matter seized under subsection (1), and alleged to be obscene, child pornography, a voyeuristic recording, an intimate image, an advertisement of sexual services or an advertisement for conversion therapy, may appear and be represented in the proceedings to oppose the making of an order for the forfeiture of the matter.

Order of forfeiture

(4) If the court is satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that the publication, representation, written material or recording referred to in subsection (1) is obscene, child pornography, a voyeuristic recording, an intimate image, an advertisement of sexual services or an advertisement for conversion therapy, it may make an order declaring the matter forfeited to Her Majesty in right of the province in which the proceedings take place, for disposal as the Attorney General may direct.

Disposal of matter

(5) If the court is not satisfied that the publication, representation, written material or recording referred to in subsection (1) is obscene, child pornography, a voyeuristic recording, an intimate image, an advertisement of sexual services or an advertisement for conversion therapy, it shall order that the matter be restored to the person from whom it was seized without delay after the time for final appeal has expired.

Consent

(7) If an order is made under this section by a judge in a province with respect to one or more copies of a publication, a representation, written material or a recording, no proceedings shall be instituted or continued in that province under section 162, 162.‍1, 163, 163.‍1, 286.‍4 or 320.‍104 with respect to those or other copies of the same publication, representation, written material or recording without the consent of the Attorney General.

advertisement for conversion therapy means any material — including a photographic, film, video, audio or other recording, made by any means, a visual representation or any written material — that is used to advertise an offer to provide conversion therapy contrary to section 320.‍104; (publicité de thérapie de conversion)

Warrant of seizure

164.‍1 (1) If a judge is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there is material  —  namely, child pornography as defined in section 163.‍1, a voyeuristic recording, an intimate image, an advertisement of sexual services or an advertisement for conversion therapy, or computer data as defined in subsection 342.‍1(2) that makes child pornography, a voyeuristic recording, an intimate image, an advertisement of sexual services or an advertisement for conversion therapy available  — that is stored on and made available through a computer system as defined in subsection 342.‍1(2) that is within the jurisdiction of the court, the judge may order the custodian of the computer system to

Order

(5) If the court is satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that the material is child pornography as defined in section 163.‍1, a voyeuristic recording, an intimate image, an advertisement of sexual services or an advertisement for conversion therapy, or computer data as defined in subsection 342.‍1(2) that makes child pornography, the voyeuristic recording, the intimate image, the advertisement of sexual services or the advertisement for conversion therapy available, it may order the custodian of the computer system to delete the material.

Return of material

(7) If the court is not satisfied that the material is child pornography as defined in section 163.‍1, a voyeuristic recording, an intimate image, an advertisement of sexual services or an advertisement for conversion therapy, or computer data as defined in subsection 342.‍1(2) that makes child pornography, the voyeuristic recording, the intimate image, the advertisement of sexual services or the advertisement for conversion therapy available, the court shall order that the electronic copy be returned to the custodian of the computer system and terminate the order under paragraph (1)‍(b).

• (c) under the age of 18 years, with the intention that an act be committed outside Canada that if it were committed in Canada would be an offence against section 155, subsection 160(2) or section 170, 171, 267, 268, 269, 271, 272, 273 or 320.‍103 in respect of that person; or

Conversion Therapy

Definition of conversion therapy

320.‍101 In sections 320.‍102 to 320.‍105, conversion therapy means a practice, treatment or service designed to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual, to change a person’s gender identity or gender expression to cisgender or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour or non-cisgender gender expression. For greater certainty, this definition does not include a practice, treatment or service that relates to the exploration and development of an integrated personal identity without favouring any particular sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Forced conversion therapy

320.‍102 Everyone who knowingly causes a person to undergo conversion therapy without the person’s consent is

• (a) guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or

• (b) guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Causing child to undergo conversion therapy

320.‍103 (1) Everyone who knowingly causes a person who is under the age of 18 years to undergo conversion therapy is

• (a) guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or

• (b) guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Mistake of age

(2) It is not a defence to a charge under subsection (1) that the accused believed that the person was 18 years of age or older, unless the accused took reasonable steps to ascertain the person’s age.

Advertising conversion therapy

320.‍104 Everyone who knowingly promotes or advertises an offer to provide conversion therapy is

• (a) guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years; or

• (b) guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Material benefit from conversion therapy

320.‍105 Everyone who receives a financial or other material benefit, knowing that it is obtained or derived directly or indirectly from the provision of conversion therapy, is

• (a) guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years; or

• (b) guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.