[df3]

Liberal backbenchers have defied Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, voting in favour of a bill that would bar health and life insurance companies from forcing clients to disclose the results of genetic testing.

My understanding is that only forced genetic testing is barred, so a Canadian insurance company could let people disclose good genetics for a discount, I presume?

Everyone should have equal access to healthcare. As far as life insurance is concerned, why can't life insurance providers discriminate on the basis of genetics? They already discriminate on the basis of family medical history.

[smnrchrds]

> so a Canadian insurance company could let people disclose good genetics for a discount, I presume?

I don't know whether insurance is regulated federally or provincially in Canada. But for all federally-regulated matters, the fact that the bill "...amends the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the ground of genetic characteristics" should mean that they would not be allowed to do that. It would be similar to having straight discount or a protestant discount, i.e. super illegal.

If insurance is provincially-regulated, I hope that the provinces follow suit to add genetic characteristics to their prohibited grounds for discrimination.

[bparsons]

It is complicated, but most health related matters are regulated by the provinces. Everything has to be in compliance with the Canada Health Act though.

[Waterluvian]

I'm not an expert but I'm not sure why it would matter. The federal law cannot be overridden or ignored by provincially regulated industries.

Canadian law is not a choose-your-own buffet for the provinces.

Am I wrong?