After a controversial piece of legislation passed second reading in the Alberta legislature Tuesday, some MLAs are speaking out, including a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus.
Ten MLAs cast votes against Bill 10 Tuesday evening; one of those members was PC MLA Thomas Lukaszuk.
“Our kids need help right now, and if you stand up and say ‘I am in favour of gay-straight alliances’ then make it happen,” Lukaszuk said. “In this building we can actually make this happen.”
Bill 10 offers students legal avenues to appeal, if they try to start a gay-straight alliance in their school and are denied.
The legislation effectively killed private member’s Bill 202, tabled by the Liberal Party and backed by MLA Laurie Blakeman – that bill would have given students the automatic right to form gay-straight alliances in their schools.
Official Opposition Leader Danielle Smith also does not support Bill 10.
“When child is confused and needing help, needing support, needing to feel accepted, if you’re expecting them to go to court and get the right to start a club, expecting them to appeal to a school board, I think that’s unreasonable,” Smith said.
Bill 10 still needs to pass a third reading, before it can become law.
