Wildrose Shifting Left - Smith Likely to Support Gay Straight Alliance Bill

[crazy_eoj]

http://globalnews.ca/news/1679334/wi...alliance-bill/

"A private member’s bill to help protect gay students in schools is gaining strength in the Alberta legislature.

Bill 202 would require all Alberta schools to establish gay-straight alliances if students request them.

The alliances are basically peer support networks to help prevent gay students from being intimidated or bullied.

“I will likely be supporting it.”

“I’ve met with a number of students who have been involved in those kinds of clubs,” said Smith. “I understand a lot about why they need a safe place and an accepting place to be able to talk about their sexual orientation.”

“Our caucus has free votes on all issues in the legislature and you can imagine, on this kind of issue, we are unlikely to have a unanimous vote.

“You’ll very likely see a number of of Wildrose MLAs supportive of this legislation.”

“Danielle [Smith] has made a number of overtures and is now specifically asking to meet with me to work this out,” said Blakeman. “I find that really encouraging."


Pretty amazing stuff. Seems like the general media perception of the party is likely unfounded.

[puffnstuff]

Still gotta show up to vote...

[Dion]

Cue the fear mongering.....

[nik-]

haha, this doesn't look like political damage control at all

[Slava]

www.500daysfordanielle.com

[Flash Walken]

Still can't bring herself to actually, publicly, support it.

"I will likely be supporting it."

WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU IF YOU ARE IN FAVOUR OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR HOMOSEXUALS, YOU SAY "YES!"

[oilyfan]

I didn't realize that Smith was the entire Wildrose party. Hmmm the party votes by majority to change their stance a week ago, and now the leader wants to vote with a motion going the other way. Smith really is leading that party to victory!!!

[evman150]

Embarrassing thread title by CalgaryBornAgain's partner in crime.

Colour me shocked.

[SebC]

Last time something like this came up they were unanimously against it.

[Flash Walken]

So did having gay straight alliance suddenly become fiscally responsible?

crazy_eoj, that was the rationale you gave when we talked about this last time. Wild Rose MLAs didn't vote for it because of how fiscally irresponsible it was.

Did they crunch the numbers or something?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

So did having gay straight alliance suddenly become fiscally responsible?

crazy_eoj, that was the rationale you gave when we talked about this last time. Wild Rose MLAs didn't vote for it because of how fiscally irresponsible it was.

Did they crunch the numbers or something?

"Once again this party shows that it will do anything to gain power"

#ThingsDanielleSmithWouldSay

... I mean, anything except actually having a plan of course, but I think that's assumed.

[Flash Walken]

Some supplemental reading:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...aight+alliance

[Rathji]

Well, I guess she could have been even more non-committal in her statements...

"If the vote isn't on Tuesday, I might vote for it. I normally don't show up for votes that are held on days that end in Y, only the homophobes vote on those days"

[Dion]

rick bell‏@sunrickbell10 hrs10 hours ago
Is anyone at #wrp answering phones? They complain press doesn't cover their announcements but then they don't respond to questions. #ableg

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

http://globalnews.ca/news/1679334/wi...alliance-bill/

"A private member’s bill to help protect gay students in schools is gaining strength in the Alberta legislature.

Bill 202 would require all Alberta schools to establish gay-straight alliances if students request them.

The alliances are basically peer support networks to help prevent gay students from being intimidated or bullied.

“I will likely be supporting it.”

“I’ve met with a number of students who have been involved in those kinds of clubs,” said Smith. “I understand a lot about why they need a safe place and an accepting place to be able to talk about their sexual orientation.”

“Our caucus has free votes on all issues in the legislature and you can imagine, on this kind of issue, we are unlikely to have a unanimous vote.

“You’ll very likely see a number of of Wildrose MLAs supportive of this legislation.”

“Danielle [Smith] has made a number of overtures and is now specifically asking to meet with me to work this out,” said Blakeman. “I find that really encouraging."


Pretty amazing stuff. Seems like the general media perception of the party is likely unfounded.

"“Our caucus has free votes on all issues in the legislature and you can imagine, on this kind of issue, we are unlikely to have a unanimous vote."

You had a unanimous vote the last time this was up as a motion, Danielle.

I think it says a lot that for a party touting their free votes, when it came to an anti-discrimination vote, all those free thinkers were in lock step together against it.

Not even those 'top down' political leaders could keep their parties in line, a third of the PCs voted in favour.

[PsYcNeT]

Haven't been online in a bit. This is hilarious.

Thanks for the vindictive response thread. Made my morning.