Federal conversion-therapy ban gets approval in principle, exposes divide in Conservative caucus

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole's efforts to straddle the divide between social conservatives and more moderate members of his caucus were on display Wednesday as the House of Commons gave approval in principle to a bill that would outlaw the discredited practice of conversion therapy.

The bill passed easily by a vote of 308-7 but exposed divisions within Conservative ranks.

O'Toole himself voted in favour of the bill, as did most Conservative MPs.

But seven of his MPs voted against it, including B.C. MP Bob Zimmer. Two abstained and eight others made it clear they were supporting it only grudgingly for now, in hopes that it will be amended by the Commons justice committee.

Former leader Andrew Scheer was among those who simply did not show up for the vote.

O'Toole allowed his MPs a free vote on the issue, part of his bargain with social conservatives that helped him secure the Conservative leadership in August.

The bill would criminalize the practice of forcing children or adults to undergo therapy aimed at altering their sexual orientation or gender identity.

'Reasonable amendments' necessary: O'Toole

Some Conservatives have expressed fears the bill would outlaw conversations between parents and their children or counsel from religious leaders. O'Toole himself has said "reasonable amendments'' are necessary to clarify that point.

Leading off the Conservatives' formal response on the second-reading debate for Bill C-6 on Monday was Conservative MP Eric Duncan, who is openly gay.

He called conversion therapy a "terrible, inhumane, dangerous practice" that needs to come to an end.

During debate on the bill earlier this week, former leadership contender Derek Sloan went so far as to suggest it would outlaw prayer. Sloan has previously said the bill amounts to child abuse.

Justice Minister David Lametti has dismissed those fears, arguing that the bill does not criminalize conversations that are meant to provide guidance to those questioning their gender or sexuality.

Sloan was among the seven Conservatives who voted against the bill Wednesday.

Others supported the bill for now but made their reservations crystal clear.

"With the best of faith, I vote in favour of sending this flawed bill to committee,'' said Saskatchewan MP Cathay Wagantall as she registered her virtual vote.

Zimmer, MP for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies, said Thursday he is against the practice of conversion therapy but took issue with the current wording of the bill.

"Make no mistake, I am opposed to the practice of conversion therapy," Zimmer said in a statement.

"However, I am concerned that the current wording of Bill C-6 leaves open the possibility that voluntary conversations between individuals and their parents, family members, pastors, teachers, or their counsellors may be criminalized."

'Conservatives couch their support,' PM says

By contrast, all Liberal, Bloc Quebecois, New Democrat, Green and independent MPs who took part in the vote supported the bill. A number of Liberal MPs made a point of announcing that they were "proudly'' voting in favour.

The NDP questioned the validity of votes that came with "qualifiers,'' prompting Speaker Anthony Rota to remind MPs that when voting virtually, they are supposed to say simply whether they are for or against the motion, with no other comment.

During question period moments before the vote, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a veiled shot at the sincerity of O'Toole's profession of support for the bill.

"Conversion therapy is rooted in the harmful premise that one's sexual orientation or gender identity could and even should be changed,'' Trudeau told the Commons, in response to a setup question from a Liberal backbencher.

"Our legislation will criminalize efforts to force someone to change or hide who they are. While Conservatives couch their support for conversion therapy behind misleading arguments, on this side, we will always stand up for the rights of Canadians.''

The bill would ban conversion therapy for minors and outlaw forcing an adult to undergo conversion therapy against their will.

It would also ban removing a minor from Canada for the purpose of undergoing conversion therapy abroad and make it illegal to profit from providing the therapy or to advertise an offer to provide it.

The practice has been widely discredited as cruel and traumatic.

The Canadian Psychological Association says there is no scientific evidence that conversion therapy works but plenty of evidence that it causes harm to LGBTQ individuals, including anxiety, depression, negative self-image, feelings of personal failure, difficulty sustaining relationships and sexual dysfunction.