Alberta NDP promises to push LGBTQ2S+ rights if elected

The NDP promises a better province for LGBTQ2S+ and racialized Albertans ahead of this year's Calgary Pride Parade, and an imminent election down the road.
MLA Janis Irwin and candidates Rosman Valencia and Brooks Arcand-Paul say the Alberta NDP will advance the rights of LGBTQ2S+ Albertans if given the opportunity to form provincial government again.
“When I first started out teaching, I helped my school establish its first-ever Pride club,” Valencia said.
“This was a big moment for me, and was something I felt was important to contribute to. It is so important to me that students have a safe space, where their privacy is respected and they can trust those around them. The NDP made sure this could happen with real legal protection.”
Valencia, vice-president of the End of the Rainbow Foundation, says those protections were stripped away by the United Conservative Party.
“I commit to you that an Alberta NDP government will restore the right of Alberta youth to form and join GSAs and QSAs, and to do so with their privacy protected under the law,” Valencia said.
Arcand-Paul says Pride is a protest in addition to a celebration.
“It began as an act of rebellion against the status quo. In fact, this is why I entered into law – I saw injustices perpetrated against my people, and people within my community both as a queer and Indigenous man,” Arcand-Paul said.
“As a lawyer, committing to changes in the law to reflect diversity and people who have been traditionally voiceless is vital. It truly matters as to who represents that voice, and who makes those decisions. It will reflect in better legislation, regulations and policy.”
Also pledged by the trio of Alberta New Democrats, assuming the party can power past the UCP in 2023, is an anti-racism act to improve interactions between government and racialized communities.
Valencia says the bill would provide a framework for collecting race-based data as a foundation for that work.
Irwin says all of these endeavours would take time and effort to put in place but the NDP wouldn't stop there.
Also on the party's to-do list:
- Expansion of coverage for trans health care;
- Making it easier for LGBTQ2S+ Albertans to find a doctor; and
- The development of an inclusive, thoughtful curriculum.
“Most importantly, we will listen to 2SLGBTQ+ folks,” Irwin said.
“I can guarantee this: Alberta’s NDP will never stop working to improve the lives of 2SLGBTQ+ Albertans.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's housing market sees largest improvement in affordability in four years: National Bank
Canada’s housing market saw the largest improvement in affordability in nearly four years in the first quarter of 2023, according to a report from economists at the National Bank of Canada.

Prison service to review decision to transfer killer Bernardo to medium security
The federal prison service says it will have a second look at its decision to move convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security facility as political leaders of all stripes react to the news with shock and outrage.
About ducking time: Apple to tweak iPhone autocorrect function
One of the most notable happenings at Apple's event for developers on Monday is likely the iPhone maker's tweak that will keep its autocorrect feature from annoyingly correcting one of the most common expletives to 'ducking.'
Poilievre threatens to filibuster budget bill if Liberals don't meet demands
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is threatening to use procedural tools to delay passage of the federal budget in the House of Commons if the Liberals don't meet his demands.
Here's what Quebec's wildfires look like from outer space
A photo taken from NASA show what the wildfires burning in Quebec look like from up above.
Facing evacuations due to a forest fire or flood? Here’s what to pack in a grab-and-go bag
While some natural disasters or bouts of extreme weather may require sheltering in place until authorities can restore power to the area, others require residents to evacuate quickly, sometimes in a matter of hours — and if you want to be prepared, you should create a grab-and-go bag.
Canada facing critical shortages of leukemia and thyroid cancer drugs
Canada is currently facing a critical shortage of drugs used to fight thyroid cancer and a form of leukemia.
Using melatonin for sleep is on the rise, study says, despite potential health harms
More and more adults are taking over-the-counter melatonin to get to sleep, and some may be using it at dangerously high levels, a study has found.
Small-brained ancient human cousins may have buried their dead, according to a surprising study
An ancient human cousin may have buried its dead and carved symbols into cave walls, surprising findings for a creature with a small brain.