Conversion therapy ban coming to Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia will move toban conversion therapy awidely discredited and controversial treatment designed to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Both Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservatives and theNDPintroduced bills Friday at Province House that would outlaw the practice.

Premier Stephen McNeilsaid his government also plans to introduce a bill this session addressing the matter and said the three House leaders have discussedfinding common ground on a single piece of legislation.

Manitoba and Ontario already havesimilar bans against thetreatment, which uses counselling, behaviour modification and medication in hopes of converting members of the LGBTQ community.

This summer, Vancouver banned businesses that provide the treatment.

Conversion therapy gained particular attention in Nova Scotia this summer when members of an anti-gay religious group in the U.S., whoadvocate for conversion therapy, were going to speak at a bible camp in Pugwash.

Gerard Veldhoven, a longtime gay-rights activist from New Glasgow, was on hand at the legislature Friday as interim Tory Leader Karla MacFarlane's guest and saw both bills introduced.

He said while there's been social progress through the years, it's not come easilyor quickly. Veldhoven said he wasn't surprised when he heard about the plans for the summer camp in Pugwash, although it was still shocking. It's proof legislation is necessary, he said.

MacFarlane said she's ready to work with everyone to make the ban happen.

"It doesn't matter if it's our bill, their bill, we just want to make sure that this session the bill goes through and we all agree and I think we will."

New Democrat MLA Susan LeBlanc said the most important thing is to make sure young people are protected and she called on the government to show leadership on the file.

"We need to make sure that this harmful and unnecessary practice does not happen in Nova Scotia," she said.

Veldhoven said as more progress is achieved, it remains important for young people to stand up and fight for their rights and "live their lives as they're meant to be lived."

"I think that that leads to happiness."