Recognition (Canada)

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    Luna Ferguson holding their birth certificate with "X" in the sex field.

    Recognition (Canada). This is a multi page section that gives information on recognition of nonbinary gender identities in Canadian services and government. In Canada, passports and immigration documents are issued federally by the Canadian government while driver's licenses, health cards, and birth certificates are issued by the appropriate provincial government.

    Recognition in federal government[edit | edit source]

    In 2017, the Canadian government passed bill C-16, which added "gender identity" and "gender expression" as prohibited grounds for discrimination [1]. Following C-16 the government put interim measures in place before they could issue documents without "M" or "F" [2]. As of June 2019, the Canadian government has begun issuing immigration documents (including passports) with "X" in the sex field [3].

    Recognition in provincial governments[edit | edit source]

    The recognition of nonbinary people by provincial governments varies across Canada. All provinces and territories have removed requirements for surgery, but many still do rely on a medical model of transness. At this point only Alberta and Ontario have moved away from the medical model for all applicants, removing the requirement for a letter from a medical practitioner. That being said some provinces have removed have also removed this requirement, but only for those over a certain age.

    Every province and territory has added explicit protections for "gender identity" in their human rights legislation. The majority of provinces protect "gender expression" as well.

    • Blue(#9FF) means it's friendly to nonbinary people.
    • Yellow(#FFB) means it's somewhat friendly to nonbinary people.
    • Red(#F99) means it's not friendly at all to nonbinary people.
    Province Allows X on documents? Legal gender change requirements
    British Columbia British Columbia allows X as a gender marker on the majority of drivers licenses and on birth certificates. [4] As on January 2022, changing gender designation does not require a physician letter except for people under 12 years old [5]
    Alberta Alberta allows X as a gender marker on birth certificates and drivers licenses. [6] Alberta does not have any medical requirements for changing gender. [7]
    Saskatchewan Saskatchewan does not allow an X gender marker, but can issue a birth certificate with the gender marker hidden.[8] Requires a letter from a physician stating that the "change of sex designation on your birth registration is appropriate"[8]
    Manitoba
    • Since April 2020, allows "M", "F", or "X" on birth certificates.[9]
    • Since October 2020, allows "M", "F", "X", or a blank gender marker on ID cards/driver licenses.[10]
    No supporting documentation or fee is needed for ID cards/driver licenses.[10] Fees and documentation are required for changing the marker on a birth certificate. (No surgical requirement.)[9]
    Ontario Ontario allows "X", "F", and "M" markers on birth certificates and ID. [11] No supporting documentation is required. [12]
    Québec Allows "X" gender markers since June 17, 2022 on birth certificates. However, it is still unrecognized by all ID-issuing government ministries. [13] For minors, a letter from a health care professional is required. [13]
    New Brunswick Allows "X" gender markers on birth registration and ID since 2019. [14] A letter from a healthcare professional is required. [15]
    Nova Scotia Allows "M", "F", and "X" markers.[16][17]
    Prince Edward Island Allows "M", "F", "X", or blank on driver's licenses. Unclear what is offered on birth certificates. [18] A letter from a healthcare professional is required to change a birth certificate. [19]
    Newfoundland and Labrador Allows "M" and "F", "X" on birth certificates. [20] If under 16, a letter from a healthcare professional is required to change a birth certificate. If under 12, two letters are required. [21]
    Yukon Appears to only allow only "M" and "F" despite commitments to add "X" in 2018 [22] If under 16, a letter from a medical practitioner or teacher is required. [23]
    Northwest Territories Allows "M", "F", and "X" on birth certificates. [24] If under 19, a letter from a medical practitioner is required. [25]
    Nunavut M or F [26] Requires two letters from medical practitioners to change a birth certificate. [26]

    Recognition by businesses and services[edit | edit source]

    See recognition in services.

    See also[edit | edit source]

    References[edit | edit source]

    1. http://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?billId=8269852&Language=E&Mode=1 Archived on 17 July 2023
    2. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2017/08/new_x_gender_designationcomingtoirccdocuments.html Archived on 17 July 2023
    3. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/gender-x-documents.html Archived on 17 July 2023
    4. https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018HLTH0079-002116 Archived on 17 July 2023
    5. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/birth-adoption/births/birth-certificates/change-of-gender-designation-on-birth-certificates Archived on 17 July 2023
    6. https://www.alberta.ca/update-driving-documents.aspx Archived on 17 July 2023
    7. https://www.alberta.ca/birth-record-sex-amendment.aspx Archived on 17 July 2023
    8. 8.0 8.1 https://www.ehealthsask.ca/residents/Pages/Sex-Designation.aspx Archived on 17 July 2023
    9. 9.0 9.1 "Change of Sex Designation". Province of Manitoba - Manitoba Vital Statistics Agency. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
    10. 10.0 10.1 Thompson, Sam (13 October 2020). "Non-binary, no gender identifier options now available on Manitoba IDs: MPI". CJOB. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
    11. https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-gender-and-sex-information-government-ids-and-forms Archived on 17 July 2023
    12. https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-gender-and-sex-information-government-ids-and-forms#section-1 Archived on 17 July 2023
    13. 13.0 13.1 http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/en/change-sexe.html Archived on 17 July 2023
    14. https://globalnews.ca/news/4006720/nb-transgender-designation-form/ Archived on 17 July 2023
    15. https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/services_renderer.201445.Change_of_Sex_Designation.html Archived on 17 July 2023
    16. https://beta.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2-573/change-sex-designation-16-years-age-or-older-en.pdf Archived on 17 July 2023
    17. https://beta.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2-590/change-sex-designation-15-years-age-or-younger-en.pdf Archived on 17 July 2023
    18. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/improving-diversity-and-inclusion-drivers-licences Archived on 17 July 2023
    19. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/transgender-health-services Archived on 17 July 2023
    20. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gemma-hickey-secures-gender-neutral-birth-certificate-1.4448562 Archived on 17 July 2023
    21. https://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/birth/changing_your_sex_designation/index.html Archived on 17 July 2023
    22. http://www.gov.yk.ca/forms/forms/6000/yg6471_e.pdf Archived on 17 July 2023
    23. http://www.gov.yk.ca/forms/forms/6000/yg6470_e.pdf Archived on 17 July 2023
    24. https://www.gov.nt.ca/newsroom/news/news-release-gnwt-introduces-changes-vital-statistics-act Archived on 17 July 2023
    25. https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/changing-your-sex-designation Archived on 17 July 2023
    26. 26.0 26.1 https://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/en/download/file/fid/11258 Archived on 17 July 2023