Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

UCP are clowns, NDP are grownups. The expectations are high for the NDP and they shouldn't be wasting time on silly things. The UCP has a low bar and should basically be applauded if they can put on pants properly in the morning.

I guess you're faith in the NDP is a little higher than mine. No one can out petty a politician, it doesn't matter what party they are aligned with.

[Red Slinger]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

UCP are clowns, NDP are grownups. The expectations are high for the NDP and they shouldn't be wasting time on silly things. The UCP has a low bar and should basically be applauded if they can put on pants properly in the morning.

The UCP clowns are also the government of the province. They are the ones that should be held accountable not the opposition party that essentially has no power.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

A bill of rights or charter protected rights should be broad. It would make some sense if they wanted to define the right to electricity but it makes little sense to protect access to solar power. Maybe they should also consider adding heat pumps so that we can protect our access to that technology. What about in ten or 20 years when technology has evolved and there is a new, better form of generation should it be appropriate to make amendments whenever something better comes along?

And when a government attacks rights & freedoms that should be broadly protected, it is incumbent on the opposition to challenge and clarify.

Is the right to access a heat pump under attack?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

And when a government attacks rights & freedoms that should be broadly protected, it is incumbent on the opposition to challenge and clarify.

Is the right to access a heat pump under attack?

Your "right" to a solar system on your home or property isn't under attack though.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Your "right" to a solar system on your home or property isn't under attack though.

Yet. But you never know what the government above you is going to do, so you gotta put it in writing. Unless it's all just a rediculous side show....

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Yet. But you never know what the government above you is going to do, so you gotta put it in writing. Unless it's all just a rediculous side show....

But if you want to put in safe guards because of fear about what the current or future governments might do it would make sense to provide broad protection, like enshrining the right to any and all green technology, instead of narrowly looking after solar. Realistically, this was just a waste of time and an attempt at "owning the libs UCP" (if that is the right term.)

[Fuzz]

It's pointing out the rediculousness of what the UCP is doing, and for that it is worthwhile. Like, you don't believe this is something the NDP would do in isolation, do you?

[Yamer]

F### these people all the way up the hall and back down again.

The Alberta government introduced bills Thursday to prohibit minors from receiving certain types of gender-affirming care, require parents be notified when a child wants to use a different name or pronoun in the classroom, and also require that parents opt-in before their children are taught about sex in class.

Another bill is designed to address the participation of transgender athletes in sport.

Proposed changes outlined in the Education Amendment Act, 2024, and the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, include:

• Students would not be able to learn about sex education, gender identity, and sexual orientation in school unless their parents have opted-in to them receiving that instruction.
• Any third-party instructional material would need approval from Alberta Education before it is used in the classroom.
• Schools would have to notify and receive permission from parents when a child under 15 wants to use a pronoun or name different from what they were given at birth. Older students aged 16 and 17 would require parental notification.
• Minors under age 15 would not be allowed to receive hormone therapy and puberty blockers. Patients who started the treatment before proclamation of the bill would be exempt. Minors who are 16 and 17 would be able to receive the medication with the approval of parents, a physician and psychologist.
• Physicians would be prohibited from performing top and bottom gender surgeries on minors. Bottom surgery is already restricted to patients over the age of 18. All surgeries are currently performed in Quebec.

The Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, also introduced Thursday, would limit membership on female competitive sports teams to athletes who were female at birth.

The measures have been criticized by many transgender people, their families and allies for opening youth to more psychological trauma due to gender dysphoria.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said in a scrum prior to the introduction of the bills that Smith is governing for a faction of her party, not for all Albertans.

The measures in the bills will either out students to their parents before they are ready or keep them in the closet, Nenshi added.

He said Smith is "punching down" on vulnerable teens who are at a high risk of suicide and self-harm.

"This callous, venal, evil act that they're bringing forward today is just so she can get a few votes on a Saturday night in Red Deer," Nenshi said. "And you know what? Albertans deserve way better than that."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...tion-1.7370006

No s###. These ghouls are in Red Deer today for their AGM.

[Fuzz]

Can we send some extra CO2 their way?

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Yamer

F### these people all the way up the hall and back down again.







https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...tion-1.7370006

No s###. These ghouls are in Red Deer today for their AGM.

I only know one trans person (born a man and now a woman) and she was part of the committee to decide on these policies and was on the podium behind Smith during the press conference yesterday. I've only known her as a woman after she transitioned. They had other trans people involved as well so that community was thoroughly consulted.

She's open with her struggles to transition. She knew she was different before age 10 and had confusing teenage years then made the decision in her 20's to transition after being married and still married to the same woman. She said that it would have been a mistake to do it in her teens even though it was a tough time for her. She wouldn't be at the press conference if she wasn't ok with the polices.

My issue is the opting-in for the sex-ed part. I'd prefer opt out instead.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by pepper24

My issue is the opting-in for the sex-ed part. I'd prefer opt out instead.

Sorry I don't understand?

[PepsiFree]

Kind of incredible how desperate conservatives in Alberta are to have the government parent their children and how welcoming they are to the interest the government has in their childrens’ sexuality and genitals.

[spotthefan]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Sorry I don't understand?

The old process, teachers assumed students had permission to participate in Health Education curriculum that Alberta has(curriculum provided by AHS).

In this new process, teachers need parents to allow their kids to participate in this curriculum. It means more will be likely to say no because they don't understand or, more likely right now, be swayed by certain perceptions of brainwashing and grooming.

What it will mean is that a generation of students will miss key health education that includes body functions, hygiene, and prevention. That sums up to future health costs of pregnancies, infections, and poor health

[photon]

"parents opt-in before their children are taught about sex in class"

I've been saying there aren't enough teenage pregnancies in Alberta, good thing the UCP is here to fix things.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by spotthefan

The old process, teachers assumed students had permission to participate in Health Education curriculum that Alberta has(curriculum provided by AHS).

In this new process, teachers need parents to allow their kids to participate in this curriculum. It means more will be likely to say no because they don't understand or, more likely right now, be swayed by certain perceptions of brainwashing and grooming.

What it will mean is that a generation of students will miss key health education that includes body functions, hygiene, and prevention. That sums up to future health costs of pregnancies, infections, and poor health

Ah thank you.

Agreed it should be an opt out

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by pepper24

I only know one trans person (born a man and now a woman) and she was part of the committee to decide on these policies and was on the podium behind Smith during the press conference yesterday. I've only known her as a woman after she transitioned. They had other trans people involved as well so that community was thoroughly consulted.

She's open with her struggles to transition. She knew she was different before age 10 and had confusing teenage years then made the decision in her 20's to transition after being married and still married to the same woman. She said that it would have been a mistake to do it in her teens even though it was a tough time for her. She wouldn't be at the press conference if she wasn't ok with the polices.

I know of a few similar stories like that, and one of regret where the person wished they hadn't done it at a young age.

I also know of a few young people in this area of concern, and while I try to be as supportive as possible, the ones I know are too easily influenced by social media and internet peers to make an informed decision to a life changing choice. I think the proposed age restrictions are appropriate and not unreasonable.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by spotthefan

The old process, teachers assumed students had permission to participate in Health Education curriculum that Alberta has(curriculum provided by AHS).

In this new process, teachers need parents to allow their kids to participate in this curriculum. It means more will be likely to say no because they don't understand or, more likely right now, be swayed by certain perceptions of brainwashing and grooming.

What it will mean is that a generation of students will miss key health education that includes body functions, hygiene, and prevention. That sums up to future health costs of pregnancies, infections, and poor health

Or even more likely than parents saying no, just not bother/remember to sign and return forms, or the kid doesn't even bring the form home for their parent to sign, happens all the time on activities. With my daughter in particular we have to ask her for the forms if we know she has a field trip or she'll never give it to us.

[Muta]

Conservatives on this board - can someone explain to me why this deplorable regime feels the need to interject themselves between a youth and their family when it comes to pronouns, transitioning, etc.? Why does a government who champions 'limited government' in people's lives feel the need to waste time pouring resources into spying into random people's bedrooms and bathrooms? Why is this a priority?

[Harry Lime]

It has always been an option for parents to opt-out their kids for sex education. By changing it to an opt-in program, that means that every kid that is too lazy, or too ADHD, or simply wants to give themselves a spare, are going to not get their parents to sign a waiver. Teenage pregnancy and STD transmission are about to go way up.

Also, they want to control every instance of potential sex ed. And they left the definition very vague. If Shakespeare has a sex scene, or a scene where there are any kind of shenanigans, are teachers supposed to send an opt-in pamphlet home? There are no boundaries unleless a teacher just ignores the issue, and then they are one Karen parent away from a professional and legal ####how. It's not like the job was stressful enough.

The part that I didn't know that is even more troubling is that the UCP must approve any new material added to a course. This is pretty much kicking a leg out from under any teacher instructing english or social studies. The bureaucracy will clearly be so difficult that nothing will be approved in time to actually use. They effectively just put a book ban on the bulk of human literature. Even the nazis only banned a few books. The UCP just banned everything, but a few.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by pepper24

I only know one trans person (born a man and now a woman) and she was part of the committee to decide on these policies and was on the podium behind Smith during the press conference yesterday. I've only known her as a woman after she transitioned. They had other trans people involved as well so that community was thoroughly consulted.

She's open with her struggles to transition. She knew she was different before age 10 and had confusing teenage years then made the decision in her 20's to transition after being married and still married to the same woman. She said that it would have been a mistake to do it in her teens even though it was a tough time for her. She wouldn't be at the press conference if she wasn't ok with the polices.

My issue is the opting-in for the sex-ed part. I'd prefer opt out instead.

I'm happy she's happy and feels she made the correct decision...for herself.

It's pretty awful for her to lobby that her approach and transition should be the only acceptable path and restrict others' access to gender-affirming care by legislating it as such.

I would have hoped that, of all people, a member of this community would know better that there is no acceptable blanket approach and outlawing certain procedures and processes is unimaginably dumb, dangerous, and selfish.

Then again, that is the unofficial UCP motto.