The Canadian government has tabled a bill that will allow people convicted of historical same-sex offences to have their criminal records expunged.
Proposed legislation aims to correct a "historical injustice" now recognized as the criminalization of same-sex activity by consenting adults, effectively removing from the record convictions that would today be inconsistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act, Bill C-66, also allows for spouses, parents, siblings, children or legal representatives to apply for record expungement on behalf of deceased persons.
It gives the Parole Board of Canada jurisdiction to order or refuse to order expungement of convictions for past Criminal Code offences that include gross indecency, buggery and anal intercourse.
If the conviction is expunged, the RCMP is to notify municipal, provincial and judicial authorities to order that all records be destroyed.
Scott Bardsley, spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, said there are 9,000 historical records of convictions for gross indecency, buggery and anal intercourse in RCMP databases, but not all of them will be eligible for expungement.
"Since these offences identified both consensual and non-consensual activities, the charge information alone would not make the distinction," he wrote in an email. "Applicants will need to provide evidence that the conviction meets established criteria."
Similar bill in New Zealand
A similar bill was tabled in New Zealand earlier this year, allowing for the expungement of criminal records for historical offences such as indecency, sodomy and keeping a place of resort for homosexual acts.
The New Zealand bill's first reading in July 2017 was accompanied by a formal apology to those convicted of historical homosexual offences, and was then referred to the justice committee.
The announcement is part of a historic apology that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will deliver in the House of Commons at 3 p.m. ET today.
CBCNews.ca will carry it live, followed by a news conference with six cabinet ministers with affected files and the prime minister's special adviser on LGBT issues.
Trudeau on LGBT apology0:21
Arriving for a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill today, Trudeau called it an "important day" for the LGBT community and for all Canadians.
"We need to recognize ills of the past in order to move forward, and that's what we're taking responsibility for," he said.
He will formally apologize for actions the government took against thousands of workers in the Canadian military and public service in the 1950s to the 1990s, including thousands who were fired because of their sexuality as part of a "national security" purge.
Some gay members of the Canadian Armed Forces were also discharged for what was termed "psychopathic personality with abnormal sexuality."
Vigilance required
The government will also earmark over $100 million to compensate LGBT civil servants whose careers were sidelined or ended because of their sexuality.
Ontario Liberal MP Rob Oliphant, who is gay, was overcome with emotion today. He said an apology tells people it's not OK to be homophobic or transphobic, but warned that media, teachers, politicians and others must be vigilant in promoting equality.
"It's very important that we start here, but that we don't stop here," he said.
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