Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
Dear Ms. Ginette Petitpas Taylor,
As a newcomer to Canada living in Riverview, NB, I am fortunate to live in a welcoming, diverse and democratic country.
Before applying for a permanent residence permit, I checked Canada's human rights legislation and was pleased to see that Canada has a Charter of Rights and Freedoms which protects women and girls based on sex and that Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which states:
"discrimination against women" shall mean any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."
Women in common and legal language (CEDAW) means adult human females. This includes trans-identified females and females with a disorder of sex development but by definition excludes trans-identified males.
In a diverse society like Canada, trans-gender people have the right not to be discriminated against because of their gender expression or identity. Women are rightfully recognized as a sex class needing some anti-discrimination laws and sex-based protections to achieve equality with men. Like many other women, I reject gender ideology and the gender stereotypical roles associated with my female sex.
Today I was distraught to see the following tweets by Canadian federal and provincial funded organizations:
Stating that transwomen are women denies biological reality and means women must be of a stereotypical gender. This contravenes women's rights as a sex-based class.
I trust you will bring my concerns to the relevant ministers and departments to ensure women's rights are upheld in Canada. I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
A new Canadian citizen