'A slap in the face': LGBTQ2S+ advocates disappointed MLA Jennifer Johnson back in UCP
Alberta LGBTQ2S+ groups say they are disappointed to see MLA Jennifer Johnson welcomed back into the United Conservative caucus.
"It wasn't a surprise but I still felt like it was a slap in the face," said Rowan Morris, the founder of Trans Rights YEG.
"Seeing somebody who has compared my community to human waste be invited back to a caucus that is about to deliberate on my rights felt completely unjust and very disgusting," Morris added.
Johnson made transphobic comments - comparing trans kids in schools to feces in food - in 2022. When the comment surfaced in 2023, she was kicked out of the UCP caucus and forced to run and sit as an Independent MLA for the Lacombe-Ponoka riding.
In a video - posted by the UCP caucus to social media - Johnson claims to have spent the past 17 months meeting and learning from members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Members of some groups who met with Johnson dispute the success of those conversations.
"We worked tirelessly to get her to listen, to see our perspective and she refused to," said Jonathan Luscombe, the Lacombe Pride Society's founder.
Luscombe said Johnson attended one meeting with the Lacombe Pride Society and disputes claims she engaged in a meaningful way with the community.
"She literally sat there and let people come to her and try to educate her because that is what we do," Luscombe said.
"When someone spreads misinformation about us and we know they don't care, we at least try. She didn't even try," Luscombe said.
Over the past 17 months, Premier Danielle Smith has flip-flopped on whether Johnson would be allowed back in caucus.
"After having a very thoughtful discussion with our caucus team, our MLAs voted to acknowledge her hard work, recognize her efforts, and welcome her into the government caucus," Shane Getson, chief UCP government whip said in a news release.
A move the head of the UCP also supports.
"The members are very happy to see Jennifer in caucus and believe that the family is now all together," said UCP President Rob Smith.
However, many are questioning the timing. Johnson is back in caucus weeks before the UCP's controversial trans legislation is debated.
"I think tapping her in for this was completely intentional knowing how she feels about this community," said Morris.
"They're bringing in somebody who has very bigoted views, and very mis-informed views on my community now to legislate me. And to know that is where their loyalties lie – with transphobia, with homophobia, with queer phobia, with disdain for gender diversity – it makes me feel terrified about what's to come," Morris added.
The Premier also has a leadership review looming, but the president of the UCP said it did not play a role in the decision to invite Johnson back into the party, adding it was a decision made entirely by caucus.
"I honestly don't think that has anything to do with the upcoming leadership review because I don't think that's how our premier operates," Smith said.
"We can't directly tie the two but the timing is obvious," said Tom Vernon, a senior consultant with Crestview Strategy.
"These conversations are being held, she's touring the province. Clearly, she had to have heard something in caucus, had to have heard something for them to take this action now," he added.
Johnson declined CTV News Edmonton's request for an interview.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians across the country mark Remembrance Day
Canadians gathered Monday in cities and towns across the country to honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of the country's values and principles.
Canada cancels automatic 10-year multiple-entry visas, tightens rules
Canada has announced changes to their visitor visa policies, effectively ending the automatic issuance of 10-year multiple-entry visas, according to new rules outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Trump names Stephen Miller to be deputy chief of policy in new administration
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is naming longtime adviser Stephen Miller, an immigration hard-liner, to be the deputy chief of policy in his new administration.
Mattel says it 'deeply' regrets misprint on 'Wicked' dolls packaging that links to porn site
Toy giant Mattel says it 'deeply' regrets an error on the packaging of its 'Wicked' movie-themed dolls, which mistakenly links toy buyers to a pornographic website.
Alien-like signal from 2023 has been decoded. The next step is to figure out what it means
If Earth's astronomical observatories were to pick up a signal from outer space, it would need an all-hands-on-deck effort to decipher the extraterrestrial message. A father-daughter team of citizen scientists recently deciphered the message. Its meaning, however, remains a mystery.
Twin port shutdowns risk more damage to Canadian economy: business groups
Business groups are raising concerns about the broad effects of another round of labour disruptions in the transport sector as Canada faces shutdowns at its two biggest ports.
Experts investigate possible tornado in Fergus, Ont.
A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.
Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people
Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.
Bleeding and in pain, a woman endured a harrowing wait for miscarriage care due to Georgia's restrictive abortion law
Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision eliminated the federal right to abortion, miscarriage management has become trickier and in some cases, deadlier.