Members of Alberta’s ruling United Conservative Party approved a resolution calling for a requirement that teachers, schools and school boards get written consent from parents before using chosen names and pronouns of students Saturday.

It was one of 30 policy proposals put to a vote at the UCP’s annual general meeting in Calgary. Almost 3,800 people gathered at the BMO Centre – the largest provincial party meeting in Alberta’s 118-year history, UCP leader and Premier Danielle Smith said.

Approval from members is non-binding on the government, and doesn’t guarantee the ideas will translate into legislation.

During her keynote speech, Smith made a nod to the long-time conservative push for more “parental rights.”

“Parents are the primary caregivers and educators,” she said to a loud applause and a standing ovation.

“Regardless of how often the extreme left undermines the role of parents, I want you to know that parental rights and choice in your child’s education is and will continue to be a fundamental core principle of this party and this government, and we will never apologize for it,” said Smith.

However, speaking to reporters, Smith was non-committal about bringing forward legislation like that seen in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick that will require teachers and schools get parental consent before allowing students under the age of 16 to change their names or pronouns.

Critics say such requirements limit the rights of trans and non-binary kids and could put them at risk.

When asked about her thoughts on the UCP resolution Smith said she would take the issue back to caucus, and consult with stakeholders before making any decisions or legislative changes.

“The way our policy process works, is the members tell us what they would like us to do, but we obviously have to put it all through the lens of what is best for Albertans as a whole,” said Smith, adding that she is still hopeful the issue can be de-politicized.

“I don’t think it matters if you’re a straight couple or a gay couple, or whether you’re a trans individual. You want to know what’s going on with your kids, that’s what I hear,” said Smith, adding she believes the government needs to ensure kids feel protected and supported.

During debate on the resolution, put forward by the Edmonton West-Henday UCP constituency association, Blaine Badiuk argued that the policy might intend to enhance parental involvement, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of vulnerable kids. “This policy divides kids and their parents,” Badiuk said.

Michelle Bataluk, from Edmonton West-Henday, said parents are being pushed aside by leftist indoctrination that caters to a loud minority.

“Children and teens should be educated in school, not brainwashed by woke activists who do not have their best interest in mind,” she said to massive applause.

The resolution was approved by an overwhelming majority.

The large turnout for the annual general meeting is widely assumed to have been driven by the work of Take Back Alberta, a third-party advertiser that’s been working to rally social conservatives, including those who were disenchanted with former premier Jason Kenney and helped bring Smith to the helm of the party last year.

About one-fifth of the resolutions stemmed from some kind of grievance from the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, including one calling for the protection of medical practitioners’ right to research, speak and write, and protect them from having their licences threatened for expressing their medical opinions publicly. During that yes vote, one audience member yelled “freedom!”

Take Back Alberta leader David Parker spoke in support of a successful resolution calling on the government of Alberta to protect “an individual’s right to informed consent decisions regarding their own body.”

“This is why many of us are here. So let’s vote for it,” he told the crowd.

Other policy proposals approved by members included calls for an end to funding for supervised consumption sites, more pushback against Ottawa’s draft clean electricity regulations, and banning transgender women from being placed in women’s correctional facilities.

Resolutions calling for the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion offices in post-secondary institutions, the banning of using race as a factor in admissions were approved. One resolution lashing out at the municipal planning of accessible, 15-minute cities and another against the use of electronic voting machines also carried.

Only one, calling for the implementation of a school voucher system “to ensure that education funding follows each student and enhances the vision of school choice,” was narrowly defeated.

With two board members acclaimed, nine of 18 executive positions were filled Saturday.

Rob Smith, an Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency association president who opposed Kenney and supported Smith for leader, won enough votes in a third ballot to become president after Cynthia Moore decided not to run for re-election.

Source : Edmonton Journal

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