Bathroom bans, pronouns, gender-affirming care among policies to be debated by Alberta UCP
Alberta's United Conservative Party members will soon debate 35 policy resolutions that include banning transgender people from women's washrooms, prohibiting non-binary gender identifiers on government documents, and ensuring trans medical treatments are not publicly funded.
The party's annual general meeting begins Nov. 1 in Red Deer, where Premier Danielle Smith's leadership will also be up for review.
It's being billed by the party as the largest political convention in Canadian history, with at least 5,428 UCP members registered to attend.
Party policies are non-binding on the government, and member approval doesn't guarantee the ideas will become law.
Kristopher Wells, Canada Research Chair for the public understanding of sexual and gender minority youth at MacEwan University, said Smith needs to condemn the resolutions as discriminatory, unconstitutional and dangerous.
"When you don't denounce it, you enable it," said Wells in an interview Friday.
"If passed, they would be some of the most extreme anti-trans and anti-2SLGBTQ policies, not only in Canada, but in the world."
Smith said in a brief statement in her role as party leader that UCP members have voted on policy resolutions that matter to them, including "prohibiting any consumer carbon tax, protecting children, strengthening landowner rights and protecting Alberta’s jurisdictional authority."
"As leader, I respect the grassroots party process and look forward to the debate in November," she said.
Wells was recently appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He said the party resolutions, if they become policy, would be in direct violation of the Alberta Human Rights Act.
Wells said there are already long wait-lists and limited funding for transgender health care in Alberta, and changing the law governing birth certificates, driver's licences and health-care cards would be unconstitutional.
"These policies are designed to attack the very existence of trans people in Alberta," said Wells.
"This is the kind of hate and rhetoric that leads to young people taking their own lives."
In its policy resolution targeting washrooms, change rooms, shelters and dormitories, the Calgary-Lougheed constituency association argues that "men" being allowed in those spaces presents a danger to women and girls.
"Alternative arrangements can be created for the small population who do not conform to their sex at conception without abolishing the single-sex spaces preferred by the vast majority of the population," it reads.
A policy resolution from the Leduc-Beaumont constituency says transgender medical treatments are "in the realm of cosmetic surgery and costs should not be placed on all taxpayers."
A resolution from Cardston-Siksika says the third option for sex on official documents should be mothballed to "maintain clarity and reliability."
Since taking the helm of the party, Smith has made some party policies government priorities and rejected others.
A resolution passed in 2023 to keep transgender people out of correctional facilities for women has not been adopted by Smith's government.
However, new rules requiring schools to get consent from parents before students can change their names or pronouns are expected to be introduced after lawmakers reconvene later this month.
Smith has also promised to restrict transgender youth access to gender-affirming health care, forbid transgender participation in competitive female sports, and require parental consent or notification for classroom instruction on sex or gender.
The premier has said the health policies are meant to protect children from life-altering decisions.
Smith has said she's aiming to eliminate "unfair advantages" in sports, and that "nearly all parents" will still love and care for their children no matter what choice they make.
Other policies up for debate at the November UCP meeting include abandoning the province's net-zero emissions targets, banning union political donations, working to increase the number of physicians trained in Alberta, and reviewing the province's gas and electricity pricing system to reduce costs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested on gun charges in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.
12-year-old boy charged in stabbing of 11-year-old boy at Edmonton McDonald's
The boy stabbed at a north Edmonton McDonald's last Friday is 11 years old.
What makes walking so great for your health and what else you need to do
Medical experts agree that walking is an easy way to improve physical and mental health, bolster fitness and prevent disease. While it’s not the only sort of exercise people should do, it’s a great first step toward a healthy life.
U.S. Congress hosts second round of UFO hearings
The U.S. government held another UFO hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the second such hearing in 16 months. This hearing was billed as an attempt by congress to provide a better understanding of what is known about previous sightings of UFOs, also known as UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena).
Toronto teenager charged with first-degree murder in Kitchener, Ont. homicide
A Toronto teen has been charged as part of an investigation into Kitchener, Ont.’s first homicide of 2024.
Spy service officer denies threatening Montreal man who was later imprisoned in Sudan
A Canadian Security Intelligence Service official has denied threatening a Montreal man who was later imprisoned and allegedly tortured by authorities in Sudan.
Donald Trump picks Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will nominate Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.
This Canadian airline will adopt Apple's new AirTag feature to help recover lost baggage. Here's how
Apple announced that a new feature, 'Share Item Location,' will help users locate and recover misplaced items by sharing an AirTag location with third parties including airlines.
Canada bracing for 'tough' talks as Trump's pick calls northern border an 'extreme vulnerability'
The Canadian government is aware it's likely in for 'tough conversations' with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's administration, after his border czar said there is 'an extreme national security vulnerability' he intends to tackle at the Canada-U.S. border.