Classroom talk on sex, religion not yet subject to new law
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 | 1:46 PM MT
CBC News
Related
Internal Links
- Alberta passes law allowing parents to pull kids out of class
- Bill 44 discriminates against gays, activists say
- Proposed Alberta law doesn't make evolution classes optional: minister
- Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law
- Alberta's human rights legislation review will consider sexuality, minister says
A controversial bill that allows Alberta parents to pull their children out of class during planned discussions on religion, sexuality and sexual orientation won't officially become law before school resumes.
Bill 44 generated hours of debate in and outside of the legislature, but easily passed through a third reading in June.
Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett said it won't be proclaimed law until October or November due to continuing discussions with school officials about how the rules will be implemented in the classroom.
The Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission is also undergoing changes, he said.
"We're looking at overall governance of the commission and we're also looking at training of staff within the commission. So a lot of those things have to happen and we'd like to get them all tidied up before we actually proclaim the bill into law."
A clause in the bill, which is an amendment to the province's human rights legislation, requires that school boards give parents written notice when sex, religion or sexual orientation are going to be covered in the curriculum. Parents can then ask for their child to be excluded from the discussion.
There will be no restrictions placed on casual classroom discussions that might arise about the topics.
The buried clause had drawn objections from teachers, schools boards and human rights groups, who argued Bill 44 would makes it possible for parents to file human rights complaints against teachers and school districts, creating a chill regarding what is taught in the classroom.
Share Tools
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- Alberta radar running again after breakdown
- Predicting severe weather patterns is still presenting a challenge for local weather watchers after four Environment Canada Doppler radars stopped working properly this week. more »
- Inquiry rules on death of troubled Alberta teen
- A fatality inquiry into the death of a mentally troubled Alberta teenager is recommending hospitals tighten rules on all outings for psychiatric patients. more »
- Alberta readies 60 new ambulances for service
- Around 60 new ambulances will soon be whizzing across the province thanks to a large purchase by Alberta Health Services. more »
- Suspicious death in S.E. investigated
- A man was found dead in southeast Calgary early Friday morning in what police are calling suspicious circumstances. more »
Top News Headlines
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges

- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- Severe storm in Quebec leaves damage in its wake
- Trees were uprooted, roofs damaged and windows shattered as severe thunderstorms, and possibly a tornado, rattled through southwestern Quebec Friday night. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest

- The deaths of five climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
- Ex-Mubarak PM vows not to recreate old regime
- The last prime minister of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is denying claims that he's trying to recreate the old regime. more »
- Former MLA questions need for Alberta Party
- Inquiry rules on death of troubled Alberta teen
- Alberta radar running again after breakdown
- Police couldn’t stop double fatal crash, judge says
- Alberta readies 60 new ambulances for service
- Suspicious death in S.E. investigated
- TEDxYYC brings passionate speakers to Calgary today
- Calgary woman who killed mother gets 5 years
- Beltline attack leaves man critically injured

