Vancouver, unceded Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) homelands – Gender justice groups from across the province are calling on the BC Government to repeal Bill 26 the Name Amendment Act (No 2) 2024. The bill changed the Name Act, restricting access to legal name changes for many British Columbians.

The new Name Act bans legal name changes for people convicted of certain offences; for people found not criminally responsible for certain crimes, and for people designated as dangerous or long-term offenders. It adds a new criminal record check for all applicants over 12 years old, and imposes mandatory records sharing between the Vital Statistic Agency and the RCMP. Applicants will face increased costs, a 4-month delay in processing applications, and for many, the inability to change their names at all. 

Changes to the law were not necessary to protect the public, and it harms those most in need of legal name changes, including transgender people, Indigenous people, and survivors of gender-based violence. Lawmakers did not consider the factors that contribute to these groups being overrepresented in the justice system. None of the affected communities were consulted. 

The name change ban interferes with the human rights of transgender people to use their chosen names; and with UNDRIP and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s requirement that governments enable residential school survivors and their families to reclaim Indigenous names. Survivors of gender-based violence also depend on legal name changes for their safety. These restrictions violate the legal rights of these communities under the Charter, theBC Human Rights Code, and international law.

The groups call on the province to repeal the Name Amendment Act (No. 2), and to improve access to correct identity documents, and to dignity for their communities.

Read the full release and add your name to the petition at West Coast Leaf’s website. >>