Fair deal demanded by hundreds of protesters over transgender rights, health care, education

More than a thousand protesters gathered at Calgary City Hall on Nov. 2, in a coalition formed together as a result of legislation proposed and actions undertaken by Alberta’s United Conservative Government.

The common sentiment was the protest against the government was necessary, the need to do so was unwelcome, and that there were Albertans willing to speak up against and unwilling to go along with actions proposed by the government.

“I am not happy to be here. I am proud to be here, but I’m sure not happy that we all have to be here this afternoon,” said Dr. Victoria Bucholtz, who organized the protest.

“We’re here today not just because of trans rights. We’re here because of schools that need funding, that need teachers that were fully supported by this government, who need educational assistance, that are being paid a living wage for the vital care that they provide our students. We’re here because we’re seeing doctors not supported, nurses not supported.”

The collation was a broad one upset with the direction that the province has been taking, said Bucholtz.

“Stick to your mandate, fund the schools, fund to health care and leave trans people alone. That’s what we’re here to say today,” she said.

Those rallying were joined by advocates for human rights, members of the United Nurses of Alberta, Alberta Teachers Association, CUPE, AUPE, representatives from non-profits Skipping Stone and Momentum Canada, as well as MLAs and the leader of Alberta’s NDP.

The ask by rally goers and speakers was to end what they say has been government interference into their lives.

“First and foremost, we’d love (Premier) Danielle Smith to stop attacking trans people, to stop politicizing our lives, to back away and return trans healthcare to doctors and patients, to return social transitions to those trans kids who as they’re coming out may come out to a teacher before they come out to a parent or vice versa, said Bucholtz.

“Let that process develop naturally, instead of including government provisions in that.”

She said that on the flip side, the government needs to return to offering a fair deal to Albertans, and to not push them into leaving the province.

“We’re seeing so many hard working Albertans are leaving this province because they’re not getting a fair deal from this government. We are seeing doctors ask for better pay for the life care, life saving care that they provide,” said Bucholtz.

“We’re seeing nurses shunned by this province. We’re seeing bogus junk science being given the same platform as legitimate medical research. We’re saying it’s time to hit pause and put this back in the hands of the adults.”

“We will fight over my dead body”: battle lines drawn against UCP legislation

Amelia Newbert, managing director at Skipping Stone, said that between 40,000 and 50,000 Albertans had sent messages in one form or another to the legislature in the past three months leading up to the introduction of anti-transgender legislation on Oct. 31.

“In the past week, over 5,000 letters were sent to the Premier’s office directly. I’m not talking about form letters. I’m talking about people who took time out of their day to write personal and heartfelt messages that is incredible,” Newbert said.

She said that over 12,000 Albertans signed a legislative petition—the eighth ever largest to be delivered to the legislature—to not pass that anti-transgender legislation.

“So, I want to tell you, this is not the time to give up. This is the time to hope. I can tell you, we are about to unleash… We are pursuing every single avenue, and there will be, I guarantee you there will be legal action taken against this government,” Newbert said.

“We have the resources, we have the people, we have the tools, we have the talent.”

Dr. Bucholtz said that in 1991, Canada signed the United Nations Convention of the Rights and Freedom of the Child (UNCRC), and that the proposed legislation violated Articles two, three, and 12 of the convention.

Although the UNCRC has not been signed into law by parliament, legal scholars have said that Canada as a signatory to that document, by convention is obliged to match the rights based protection in that document.

Newbert said that her organization has been raising a legal defence fund ahead of the legislation.

“That is the promised commitment that me on behalf of thousands of people working with Skipping Stone, with Egale, with Trans Action Alberta and so many others make to you: we will fight over my dead body,” she said.

Government must protect trans children says teachers, nurses, official opposition

Joint protests were also held in Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Fort McMurray on Saturday.

At those protests, members of the Alberta Teacher’s Association read a shared statement about the effects the legislation would have on students and classrooms.

Past President of the Alberta Teacher’s Association, Greg Jeffery, said that teachers were already struggling in the province and that the proposed opt-in provisions of the government’s legislation would only make it harder for students in the classroom to receive a quality education.

“Teachers are struggling right now as a result of government decisions and the fact that Alberta is the least funded school system in Canada. Teachers are sick. They are tired and they are feeling overwhelmed. The mountains of red tape and new barriers being put in place will essentially render it impossible for teachers to use resources or provide instruct instruction on 2SLGBTQ+ topics,” Jeffrey said.

“Teachers are already being intimidated and discouraged from addressing these important topics. When teachers can’t talk about 2SLGBTQ+ identities, then those identities will cease to exist in schools. We call this a chilling effect, but sadly, it is much worse. It is erasure. It is suppression. It is oppression. It is wrong.”

He said that Albertans couldn’t let the government drive a wedge between parents and teachers.

“We are partners in education, and when we work together, our voices are stronger. We can’t this government create distrust in public schools. We can’t let lies, misinformation and the hate to motivate the worst elements of society to lend them their power. We can’t let that happen.”

Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi, speaking at the protest, said that he believed that the government and Premier Danielle Smith had exploited phrases of helping children as a way to put forward the government’s legislation.

“The point is that we have a government that, regardless of what you think, chose vulnerable children with a high risk of self harm and suicide as the group they want to push back on. That’s not how normal governments work. That’s not how grown up governments work,” Nenshi said.

He said that as the opposition, he was aware that there wasn’t anything the ANDP could do to stop the legislation passing.

“We know it’s going to pass. But what can we do? What can we focus on? So number one, let’s make sure that we’re supporting Skipping Stone and Egale in their legal actions. Let’s make sure that the courts have a chance to talk about how you can not bargain away basic human rights for political power,” Nenshi said.

“Exactly a year from now, we will have municipal and school board elections across Alberta. Let’s make sure that we are supporting candidates for city council, for mayor and for school boards, critically, for school boards who believe in protecting every single person’s human rights.”