Oh Alberta... one step forward, two steps back.

Maybe a few steps back.

1. Bill 44 is law today.

Good news, what used to read:

WHEREAS it is recognized in Alberta as a fundamental principle

and as a matter of public policy that all persons are equal in:

dignity, rights and responsibilities without regard to race, religious

beliefs, colour, gender, physical disability, mental disability, age,

ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income or family

status;

Now reads:

WHEREAS it is recognized in Alberta as a fundamental principle

and as a matter of public policy that all persons are equal in:

dignity, rights and responsibilities without regard to race, religious

beliefs, colour, gender, physical disability, mental disability, age,

ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family

status or sexual orientation;

Thanks Alberta! We may be 32 years behind Quebec, but progress is progress right?

the bad news is that tacked on to this bill is this:

Notice to parent or guardian

11.1(1) A board as defined in the School Act shall provide

notice to a parent or guardian of a student where courses of

study, educational programs or instructional materials, or

instruction or exercises, prescribed under that Act include

subject-matter that deals explicitly with religion, sexuality or

sexual orientation.

(2) Where a teacher or other person providing instruction,

teaching a course of study or educational program or using the

instructional materials referred to in subsection (1) receives a

written request signed by a parent or guardian of a student that

the student be excluded from the instruction, course of study,

educational program or use of instructional materials, the

teacher or other person shall in accordance with the request of

the parent or guardian and without academic penalty permit the

student

(a) to leave the classroom or place where the instruction,

course of study or educational program is taking place or

the instructional materials are being used for the duration

of the part of the instruction, course of study or

educational program, or the use of the instructional

materials, that includes the subject-matter referred to in

subsection (1), or

(b) to remain in the classroom or place without taking part

in the instruction, course of study or educational

program or using the instructional materials.

Honestly, to me, this sounds so broad as to be completely meaningless. What the hell does it mean for subject matter to "deal explicitly with sexual orientation"? I'm pretty sure that would include every novel ever written ever. Why can't they be open about it and just say "prescribed under that Act include subject-matter that deals explicitly with religion, sexuality or queer folks".

Seriously. Bill 44. More good than bad. It's just infuriating that we feel the need to temper even the slightest progressive action in Alberta. Gross.