June 9, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice.
Today, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Peter MacKay, announced the introduction of legislation aimed at better protecting Canadians and their personal information, by preventing the misuse of genetic information in Canada. This legislation proposes amendments to three federal laws, namely, the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, and the Privacy Act, to provide greater legal clarity on the protection offered by these laws with respect to genetic test results.
"Canadians are growing increasingly concerned with the protection of their very personal information, as genetic testing methods become more sophisticated and more accessible. Our Government clearly signalled our intention to protect Canadians from the possible misuse of their genetic information, through our commitment in the October 2013 Speech from the Throne. By introducing this legislation we are taking an important step in the right direction for Canadians, but we cannot do it alone and the safety and integrity of our genetic information will also require efforts from our partners. On behalf of all Canadians, I urge provincial and territorial governments, as well as private industry, including insurance companies, to follow our lead by also taking steps to prevent genetic discrimination within their areas of authority."
Peter MacKay
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
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