Redford open to revisit rights issue in schools

Bill 44 lets kids 'opt-out' of classrooms

By Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald

Alberta's next premier delved into the thorny issue of human rights law on Wednesday, with Alison Redford saying she will review a provision that requires parents to be notified when sex or religion is discussed in school classrooms, and a section that has been criticized for censoring free speech.

The issue came up during a Herald live online chat with Redford, when a reader asked about Bill 44, saying a parental notification requirement has put a chill on addressing issues of "sexual orientation" in the classroom.

Bill 44 changed Alberta's Human Rights Act to require schools to notify parents when topics such as sexual orientation, religion or human sexuality are taught in class. Parents can then make the decision for their child to opt-out.

"Given the high rates of gay teen suicide and our recognition for the need to tell them 'It Gets Better' through a social media campaign, would you support scrapping that section of the Human Rights Act?" reader Nancy asked the premier designate.

Redford said she would be taking another look at that provision, along with Section 3 of the Alberta Human Rights Act.

"I know that there was real concern on this issue at the time - we will be taking a look at where we are," Redford said. "It concerns me that we could have kids in school who are not getting the info and support that they need to have to live healthy lives."

The provision that calls for parental notification has support among parents who believe they should have the clear and final say on what their children hear on sensitive issues. However, Philippe Rabot, director of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, said his office has received "zero" complaints from parents on the notification provision.

"If this was ever to come up, most school boards would have a process to deal with this," Rabot said.

Alberta Liberal deputy leader Kent Hehr, who represents Calgary-Buffalo, is pleased Redford is taking a second look at the legislation.

"For me and my constituents, many of them who are of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, it was very hurtful," Hehr said.

The other provision, Section 3 of Alberta Human Rights Act, speaks against the publication of any material that is "likely to expose a person or a class of persons to hatred or contempt." While campaigning for the Tory party leadership, Redford said "freedom of expression must be shielded and Section 3 of the Alberta Human Rights Act should be repealed."

Janet Keeping, president of the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership, said her organization has long called for Section 3 to be amended or axed. She said the section is so open to interpretation it easily could muzzle free speech.

In democracy, open discussion is necessary, Keeping said, "not using the law to clobber people and to shut them up just because some people take offence. And the scary thing is that truth is no defence."

Many others have argued the section isn't necessary, because hate speech can be dealt with under the Criminal Code.

KCRYDERMAN@ CALGARYHERALD.COM


(2011-10-6/The Calgary Herald)