Vancouver Island Conservative MLAs Day and Kindy vote to legalize discrimination by race, gender, sexual orientation, and more
VICTORIA—B.C. Conservatives voted today for a bill by MLA Tara Armstrong to repeal the B.C. Human Rights Code, which prevents discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, gender, sexual identity and other characteristics.
North Island MLAs Brennan Day and Anna Kindy voted in support of the bill.
“These are basic human rights,” said Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore. “It is simply unacceptable that Brennan Day and Anna Kindy would vote to strip British Columbians of protections against discrimination because of their skin colour, or because they’re a woman, or because of who they’re married to.”
Although the B.C. Conservatives claim they supported it at first reading because of tradition, they voted against OneBC bills at first reading three times in the fall session.
Although Brennan Day claims that voting at first reading is a matter of tradition, he and Kindy have voted against previous bills at first reading multiple times, including to repeal the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and ban land acknowledgements. Day has also skipped first reading votes, including a vote to ban gender affirming care for minors.
The B.C. Human Rights Code was created in 1969, originally focused on protections against discrimination based on racism, religion, ancestry, and skin colour.
“Human rights should not be a matter of debate, and it’s disappointing that Brennan Day thinks that they should be,” said Lore. “People on Vancouver Island expect their MLAs to stand up against discrimination, not vote to legalize it. Anna Kindy and Brennan Day failed Islanders today.”
Ravi Kahlon addressed news media in the legislature shortly after the vote. Video of his comments is available here.
Video of Premier David Eby’s comments in the legislature is available here.