C-285Medical Freedom Act
An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Canada Labour Code and the Employment Insurance Act
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 15, 2022
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since June 15, 2022
What it does
Adds medical history and conscientious belief to human rights protections, limits reprisals at work for certain health decisions, and protects EI benefits in those cases.
What it does
- Adds conscientious belief and medical history to the Canadian Human Rights Act’s list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.
- Sets a rule for transportation services, saying denial or other adverse treatment based on medical history is only reasonable if accommodating the person would cause undue hardship, considering health, safety and cost.
- Bars federally regulated employers from taking reprisals against employees for certain health decisions, including vaccine choices, and requires accommodation when set conditions are met.
- Requires employers, when considering accommodation for an unvaccinated worker, to consider medical evidence of protection from prior COVID-19 infection if the prescribed conditions are met.
- Lets Employment Insurance claimants keep benefits if they lost their job solely because of certain health decisions.
Who it affects
- People with medical histories
- People with conscientious beliefs
- Federally regulated employees
- Federally regulated employers
- Transportation service providers
- Employment Insurance claimants
Background
It amends the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Canada Labour Code and the Employment Insurance Act.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill not proceeded with. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.