Before even taking the province’s reins Premier Alison Redford indicated she is open to revisiting one of her predecessor’s most contentious pieces of legislation.
Redford said Wednesday she is open to revisiting Bill 44, a piece of legislation passed under former premier Ed Stelmach.
The legislation was a series of amendments to the Alberta Human Rights Act, the most contentious of which required schools to inform parents in advance of any instruction that dealt with religion or sexuality.
Failure on the part of the school to do that could open it and the teacher to legal action in front of the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal.
The provision passed in 2009 and was implemented in the fall of 2010. To address some of the concerns the bill was amended to make it clear the instruction had to deal explicitly with religion or sexuality to qualify for parental notification.
Redford was participating in a live chat with readers on the Edmonton Journal’s website, when she said it was important that the provision not stand in the way of students who need access to important information.
“It concerns me that we could have kids in school who are not getting the info and support they need to have to live healthy lives. We can’t have policies that harm kids,” Redford wrote on the forum.
Lauri-Anne Turnbull, chair of the Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools, said if the government wanted to take another look at the legislation the board would be interested.
“Should it be re-opened we would be open to giving our input if we were asked.”
Turnbull said the requirement hasn’t proven too onerous for the board.
“I would say at this point we have adapted, as we do to anything that is a directive from the ministry.”
Joan Trettler, chair of the Protestant school board, went further however and said she would welcome the province rescinding the controversial provision.
“We were not happy with it to begin with and we were concerned about the whole tone of it.”
Trettler said concern about being dragged in front of a human rights tribunal has put a chilling effect on class discussion.
“It has lead to teachers being much more cautious,” she said. “I think they feel more vulnerable.”
Jonathan Teghtmeyer, a spokesperson for the Alberta Teachers’ Association, said teachers across the province would be happy if the new premier wanted to take another look.
“If the new premier is looking to change and adjust those education related portions I think we would be in favour of that.”
He said if parents are concerned about what their children are learning there are already ways for them to address those concerns.
“It is our contention that this doesn’t belong in human rights legislation; that the school act and the proposed education act cover this.”
Teghtmeyer, said the ATA has worked on the legislation and it now requires parents to make an effort to resolve the problem at the school level and with the school board, but it would be a lot easier if the legislation simply wasn’t there.
“I think the teachers would be relieved if the education portion, the prior notification piece would be repealed.”
Redford is set to appoint her cabinet this coming Wednesday and the fall session of the legislature is set to resume on Oct. 24.
