Of all the clownish, bizarre, and cynical policies of the United Conservative Party, surely the most grotesque we have seen so far was today’s launch on social media by Premier Danielle Smith of what is sure to become known as the War on Trans Kids.
What’s grotesque about Premier Smith’s video policy announcement is not the attempt to ban an extremely rare medical treatment that the Smith Government disapproves of on ideological grounds, if the MAGA phenomenon now embedded in the UCP can be dignified as ideology, and to turn dog-whistles into policies that can impact young people’s lives.
This was to be expected from the UCP of Take Back Alberta, Danielle Smith, the remnants of the Wildrose Party, and the few emasculated Progressive Conservatives who have stuck with this lot in the UCP cabinet, caucus, and general membership.
Rather, it was the profound cynicism of Ms. Smith’s introduction to this policy of othering, isolating, banning, and endangering a tiny minority of young people as if it were a gesture of kindness and support.
“My fellow Albertans,” she began the short video released this afternoon, “today I wish to address a very sensitive issue involving our children and gender identity. This is not always an easy conversation to have. I strongly believe that we as a society must support and reach out with kindness and inclusion to those who identify as transgender and work to eliminate the discrimination they often experience in their lives.
“As premier of this province, I want every Albertan that identifies as trans to know I care deeply about you, and I accept you as you are. As long as I lead this province, I will ensure that you are supported and that your rights are protected.”
Then she went on to outline a program that bans medical treatments for gender dysphoric young people under 15 and 17, confirms the right of parents to (mis)treat their children as property, and would force teachers to out children who wish to use a name or pronoun they were not given at birth to their parents, regardless of risk.
Needless to say, this is hypocrisy of a particularly nauseating sort.
And of course it’s an easy conversation to have – the United Conservative base has been talking about virtually nothing else for weeks, and you have to know that Ms. Smith has been playing an enthusiastic role in those conversations.
“She is presenting the harshest, least inclusive policy regime for trans kids in Canada as a depoliticized compromise,” wrote University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young in a thoughtful first take on this announcement.
“Unlike New Brunswick and Saskatchewan’s foray into this area,” Dr. Young said, “Alberta will go significantly further: Trans girls will not be permitted to compete as girls in sports. No surgery before age 18. No hormones before age 16.”
“Does the province even have jurisdiction over these matters?” she wondered. “Does it regulate amateur sport outside schools? Can it legislate access to an approved pharmaceutical based on age? And if it does have authority in these areas, is it prepared to use the notwithstanding clause?”
These are important questions. The answers are far from clear. One thing is certain, though, this development will spawn years of expensive litigation, for which we taxpayers will have to pay the freight in the cause of keeping the social conservative zealots of Take Back Alberta off the premier’s back.
Indeed, David Parker, TBA’s founder and UCP’s attack poodle (or, perhaps attack Havanese would be more technically accurate), was singing Ms. Smith’s praises and threatening people he views as opponents.
“Teachers of Alberta,” he said in a tweet. “You no longer have permission to indoctrinate our children into your ideology. You are legally required to inform parents before teaching their children queer ideology. If you do not inform parents, we will know.”
This is the true voice of the UCP, of course, not the oleaginous fake concern of Ms. Smith’s video.
But one also needs to ask: What other legal medical procedures would Ms. Smith’s government like to outlaw or restrict if it could, and what group of people would be the target? I think we all know the answer to that one.
Part of the cynical intent of this announcement, obviously, is to try to draw the NDP Opposition into an overwrought reaction that UCP political strategists believe many Albertans will find off-putting. And if a few kids get hurt, I guess they think, so what?
A news conference to provide more details on the UCP policy has been scheduled for this afternoon at 1:30, according to an email to media labelled with Orwellian inaccuracy, “Preserving choices for children and youth.”
Perhaps tomorrow’s news conference will provide reporters with an opportunity to ask about whom Ms. Smith, who claimed on her free Saturday radio program that the UCP had “consulted very broadly about it,” actually talked to before this policy was cooked up.
Tucker Carlson? Jordan Peterson?
Judging from their statements over the past few days, her “consultations” involved neither teachers nor LGBTQ groups.
Does anyone in the UCP Caucus have the spine to stand up against this?
Alberta is now officially a Kakistocracy! Punch down and suck up! Who needs rights? Is she right? Of course she is! She’s our Dani! She’s importing every bit of toxic culture war politics she can shovel into her manure spreader! Change the pronouns and this song is Dani’s all the way! https://youtu.be/MzazMN4tFOY?t=3
If it helps to hear it.. “She’s a drug store truck drivin’ Ma’am” now hear it.
As you must aaaaaaallllways remember, the Premier(anointed of…) are the main victims.
Ahem!—that should be, ‘out of her manure spreader.’
Funny you should mention manure spreader and Dani in the same sentence. Did you see the photo of her “rescue” during the High River floods? She was carried out from her acreage on top of a manure spreader. The perfect summation for her career, even back then. Any chance that photo can be found Mr. Climenhaga? I’ve Googled it a few times but came up empty.
Well, it is pretty clear that in dotty Danni’s mind people under 18 are the property of their parents. The personhood of the underaged not being recognized has implications in all sorts of legal areas, I should think. Be prepared for many court battles. In the meantime Alberta’s journey to the early 20th century continues apace. So what’s next a return of The Lord’s Day Act, and separate drinking taverns for men and women? A return to the strap in schools? Truant officers?
FA: There is no danger of truant officers being hired in Alberta. The UCP’s goal is to eliminate public schools entirely, not to ensure they are attended. DJC
Back in the days years ago when Smith seemed to be a somewhat more consistent libertarian, while I didn’t agree with her, I had more respect for her.
Now her libertarian side, which she still trots out from time to time, seems mostly show. The problem with the parental rights crowd is they are trying to take away or minimize the rights of kids.
I’m unsure if Smith is really comfortable with this, the old Danielle Smith sure wouldn’t be. I suspect she is saying and doing this now because she knows that she needs to pander to a certain social conservative crowd to stay in power and she probably now fears them.
So, while she still earnestly talks about her principles from time to time, she has become a parody of the type of politician who like Groucho Marx says those are my principles, but if you don’t like them I have some others.
Its not a good state when Alberta is now being led by people who should try be leaders, but instead have let themselves become followers of others.
Dani is obviously beholden to Parker’s TBA cult. They can say whatever they want but their actions are loud and clear. The cute part is that they seem to think Albertans trust what they say.
Good on Ms Smith! About time that this nonsense stops. I as a parent am responsible for my children until adulthood…..full stop!
So parents should be able to kill their children with impunity, like David and Collet Stephan?
David Hardibg: Good on Danielle Smith for contradicting herself, once again. As the Wildrose party leader, she supported the very same things she claims to be opposing now, as the premier of Alberta. Danielle Smith has to do anything to try and detract from her utter failure as premier of Alberta. It’s doubtful that she will endure a complete term as premier of Alberta, because she and the UCP are an utter disaster. The UCP have done very pricey boondoogles, that cost us billions of dollars, made costs of things shoot up, such as utilities, are causing problems with doctors, and the public healthcare system in general, put people’s lives in jeopardy, made poverty levels accelerate, and don’t care about the environment, among other things. Danielle Smith is also being influenced by someone else here, and is desperately trying to save her political career.
Dear David. Your children are not your property. They have their own minds and ideas. They actually have rights. You are responsible for their well-being, but you don’t get to control their lives.
Cool, so they should be allowed to drink, buy pot, vote, drive and do any other adult activity then.
I believe your response counts as a “slippery slope” or “hasty generalization” fallacy. It certainly isn’t the logical conclusion.
I think lowering the voting age to sixteen would provide parents like you some food for thought! After all, some young humans might be tired of your world view!
In a word, NO!
No spine. No courage. No intellectual capacity. No ability to think independently.
In other words, conservatives are No Thing but stooges and lemmings. The lowest of the low.
No one in the UCP has the spine to stand up to this but real Albertans do. A rally to protect trans kids and trans expression in schools is scheduled for Sunday, February 4 at 2 p.m. in Calgary at city hall.
Did you hear how many times Smith said “our” in that little speech of hers? Madam Premier, children are not property in Canada. One person’s rights in our constitution do not override any other person’s rights, no matter their age or gender. Looks like you’ll be going the notwithstanding route, eh?
Ron DeSantis Mini-Me, will you also be demanding menstrual charts from anyone wanting to play girls’ sports in this province?
“Entrepreneurial childcare” is not an oxymoron* in Smith-berta because this is a place where children are nothing but property to be exploited for profit. Who cares if a few hundred children get E. Coli because of lack of government oversight, etc ? Isn’t this the Victorian era, when heirs needed spares due to high child mortality? Anyhow, if kids are just a means for the greedy to make money, what’s in it for Smith’s benefactors: for-profit medical centres for gender reassignment surgery, where trans kids can be turned into cash cows? Cynical, indeed.
*May contain actual morons.
Egads!!!
It’s Saturday, February 3!!!
What exactly are teachers in Alberta indoctrinating children with? When were they doing this? The children are our future scientists, doctors, nurses, teachers, carpenters, engineers, mechanics, electricians, and other professionals. It’s also against the law in Canada for minors to have certain surgical procedures. Danielle Smith is actually contradicting herself, as she has a tendency to do. Somehow, I believe that the UCP have done something bad again, which could also be costing us billions of dollars again, and they have to distract people from that. Since David Parker was never even elected, why does he think he has so much power and control in Alberta, over anything? If he has been interfering in the democratic and electoral process in Alberta, maybe he should be slapped with a big fine, or put into prison? I don’t recall anyone who wasn’t elected in Alberta, or Canada, for that matter, thinking they can come and take over things. The speakers at the Tucker Carlson event, in Calgary and in Edmonton, were convicted criminals, and bigots. Instead of governing, Danielle Smith was spending time with these people, on our dime.
I believe we know the answer to the last question above. Surely, there must be a sign outside the UCP Caucus Room, “Please remove your hats and spines before entering this room”. It just keeps getting better for teens in Alberta. It is against the law NOT to out a teen and to add insult to injury you can legally pay them less than minimum wage. Obviously, the UCP have done their research and have figured out that this cohort will never vote for them. Hence, the cruelty. What happens to a teacher if they do not out a student? Are they whipped, pilloried, stocks or branded?
Clearly, there are no spines in the UCP caucus. This is what happens when poorly educated megalomaniancs, like David Parker, run the province. No wonder conservative politicians love poorly educated voters.
CX: While I basically agree, I am quite sure Mr. Parker is better educated than he lets on. DJC
Then Parker works hard to hide his educational elitism (I thought he ditchlied that act long ago!). I wonder why someone would do that?
Water Dragons— perserving and far-sighted …..sounds about right.
Happy Birthday Sensei , with sincere respect and best wishes.
And as far as Dani goes,
methinks that girl done left the peroxide in too long.
And on X, Parker is ” so very happy ” with her., I need to go gargle.
Isn’t it amazing how Conservatives ignore science on almost every issue that comes along? No to climate change, no to the fact that red meat has a definite link to a number of deadly diseases including heart disease, diabetes and cancer and now the fact that there is a brain/body disconnect in the development of developing fetuses that will lead to their recognition of being transgender later in life. Smith and her unpleasant and cruel cohorts have proven once again, how willing they are to mind everyone else’s business except their own.
Debrah,
I’m interested in the comment you made, “now the fact that there is a brain/body disconnect in the development of developing fetuses that will lead to their recognition of being transgender later in life.” Please provide a link or direct me to a scientific journal or articles where I can read up more on this. Thanks.
“…I care deeply about you, and I accept you as you are.”—Danielle Smith, Premier.
If that is, in fact, true, then it makes Danielle Smith’s next words a lie: “I will ensure that you are supported and that your rights are protected.”
No, she won’t. Smith became leader of the so-United Conservative Party because David Parker’s disciples bought UCP memberships and overwhelmed the old party. Smith knows this. She’s been spending a LOT of time cozying up to her caucus. Partly, that’s because (when she’s not being a rabble-rousing Qanon queen) she’s a nice person. Mostly, it’s because she’s afraid her good friend Mr. Parker will kick her out of her job. Smith watched from the sidelines as Parker’s radical-right splinter group forced Jason Kenney from office. Smith doesn’t want to risk it for herself.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-danielle-smith-putting-in-the-hours-1.7058358
The MAGAfication of Oilberduh continues.
Mike J Danysh: Watching her press conference on this today, shows that Danielle Smith is contradicting herself, and that someone is pulling her strings. When she was the Wildrose party leader, she clearly supported these things she is now claimg to be in opposition to. In the press conference, someone got under her skin, and was asking a question along the lines of why isn’t she using her first name, Marlaina? There was a sudden click, because she didn’t want that question to be answered. She looked so uncomfortable at the press conference. What are your thoughts on this?
Sorry, Anonymous, I don’t watch politicians speaking live. I get an allergic reaction to the BS.
Mike J Danysh: My theory is that the UCP did some other type of epic screwup, and this is a convenient distraction.
A golden rule for educators. First turn away from the attention seeking behaviour. Then find the source. Work with respect and care to fulfill the underlying need that brought on the harmful, negative outburst. Work with other professionals, with all stakeholders. Your job as a journalist is to find the wisp of smoke. Our job now is to ask the questions and solve them, not blow smoke. What are our children and parents really asking for if this is the cry for help? Support for mental health? A program of studies created to develop critical thinking skills? Support for diverse learners? Toys in the daycare? Safe transportation? Untainted food? A learning space safe from intimidation and racism? A family doctor? A reliable supply of clean water? A community protected from fire? From climate catastrophe? A home? Now find the people who can do these things and hold on to these people. In thirty-three years of teaching I had one parent ask me not to promote gay marriage. It was easy to answer this parent; gay marriage is not in the elementary program of studies, we always inform parents of what is in the curriculum and always respect the individual’s rights and circumstance. Not so easy to deal with; the hundreds and hundreds of parents asking for help with their children’s special learning needs, help with poverty, help fleeing abuse, help because their house burnt down in their own city. Help with their child unhappy being who they are or are not. Children who attempt daily to kill themselves. Children without arms because there are landmines where they used to live. Children who spent years malnourished in a refugee camp. Children who speak three languages, just not English. Children whose brains have holes in them because of the stuff washing through their system before they were even viable. Children who don’t speak at all because of where they have been or who they are. Children who carry drugs for their family. Children who steal food they don’t need because they were raised in a dumpster and sometimes went without. In Edmonton. They have all been in my classroom. Not a unique classroom by any means. I’m sorry, I don’t know where I am going; just that the knot of anger in my stomach is not enough.
Your rant brought tears to my eyes.
If the people who fight so strongly to protect children from anything to do with inclusion and tolerance would put as much money, force and energy into fighting child abuse and child poverty, their claims of concern for children would be much more believable. What is it about these people’s obsessive concern with sex?
Home schooling support groups for parents are thinly veiled protections for child abusers, especially in America.
Just finished reading a lengthy Substack article by a reporter who attended the Edmonton stop on Tucker Tour ‘24. First, I was surprised by the attendance figure of 7000. Then, I was shocked by the quoted words coming from the mouths of the male panelists. Christ on a bike, we are in deep doodoo. Perhaps Dani figured this audience and their leaders would be receptive to her latest anti-kids policies. Can I help fund a court challenge?
And now I see the Beaverton reminding folks that Danielle is not her birth name. Did she ask her parents?
Yes you can. Egale Canada and Skipping Stones Foundation of Calgary are preparing legal challenges. I just donated today in honour of our 14 year old daughter, self identified as pan, who is constantly misgendered and is called fag. A boy attacked her a year ago but she decked him with her black stripe in Tae Kwon Do. Our hera! It felt good to donate, do it! Great thinking.
Trans identified families are talking about leaving Alberta to get the medical help they need. Smith’s long game is to force progressives to leave. Her CPP threats have already succeeded with that leaving more TBA types at the polls.
This woman needs to be stopped. 13.5 months the Ides of March. TBA will take her down like they did Kenney when she doesn’t budge on abortion…or will she?
MI, thank you for the donor suggestion. I have been looking for a way other than words to note my disgust, on the one hand, and my support, on the other.
David Parker sure does love his ten dollar words, someone ask him if he actually knows what “ideology” means.
I’m also insulted; he doesn’t recognize me as an enemy !? What a hack !
Formal sports teams (school teams) were always segregated by gender, most of the teams I played on were mixed, who’s going to decide if they’re playing as a boy or a girl ?
These people are so consumed by their hate they literally have lost the ability to think about basic things. What a disgrace.
Can’t wait for all other jurisdictions in North America other than Texas and Florida (Indiana?) denouncing us a pariah and pulling their investment.
As for the substance of what they’re attempting , this has long been a matter for the courts and I suspect when it is settled, they will be denounced as the unconstitutional fascists that they are.
My final caveat is this; and please do not forget it it. They’re trying to start a culture war, to stave off the class war they know is coming. Don’t give it to them, don’t lose who you are as a person and don’t lose sight of where we are headed merely because you are angry. We only get where we are going if we all go together, there isn’t a community in this province that deserves to be discarded. Empathy and education are how we get there, not cancellation. Don’t be mean to your neighbours.
Would I have said this two years ago ? Probably not, hopefully that’s an indication I am growing as a person.
May I suggest a dissenting interpretation?
Although it could be nothing more than a manifestation of the broken clock syndrome, I think that Smith has cleverly activated this issue as a reliable distraction from her troubles in the material world by shifting attention to culture wars / identity politics. Her usual opponents on the cultural Left will be full of righteous indignation – and this will solidify her following from her existing base. And if she’s lucky, there will be one or two prominent NDP supporters of the gender-critical feminist persuasion who will surface and blurt something which will create divisions among people who would never vote for Smith in a zillion years (see: 2020 implosion of the BC Ecosocialist Party).
And if she’s super-lucky, the other reliable method for sabotaging the Left, which is almost impossible to neutralize – allegations of anti-semitism – will magically surface at some point (see: Corbyn, Jeremy, or Jama, Sarah).
I want to begin by saying that Danielle Smith is a lying, disingenuous clown, and David Parker is a self absorbed troglodyte. I would sooner walk on glass than support a party who has shown repeatedly they could not manage a 7-11.
Our side must be thoughtful, and not respond to every UCP policy with knee jerk irrationality. But I think this policy, even though clumsily handled, is probably the right one, if only to give us more time.
That the right wing is spending so much energy and political capital on an issue affecting so few people reveals their absolute dearth of good ideas about helping the middle class. The right wing rage machine is working overtime. But we, as thoughtful citizens, must support policies that have merit, regardless of origin. We need to turn down the heat. Preventing irreversible rash choices from adolescents is not poor policy. Promoting open honest dialogue is not a bad thing, even when you know it is going to be upsetting to parents and intimidating to kids. It is a rite of adolescence. Supporting secrecy between parents and students puts schools in a very awkward spot, and seems so wrong headed. Parents and schools should be partners in doing what’s right for every student. Secrets are walls.
As a person who has worked with kids for decades (including lots of gay and trans kids dealing with name, pronouns, and identity), this is a very tricky issue with a lot of shades of grey, and we need to breathe and think through things carefully. I do concur with Dr Young that there are profound questions about provincial jurisdiction and authority (rather ironic for this crew). But pushing back hysterically is, as DC rightly points out, something the UCP is counting on. If your opponent wants you to do something, why would you do it?
Think back to when you were a teenager. You know now that you were dumb as a post, knew nothing of the world, were incredibly confused about who you were and your place in the world, and thought that all adults were idiots. Teachers were the enemy. You said and did stuff that was total BS. You rebelled against your parents for no good reason other than to define boundaries. You perhaps gained self esteem by standing up to authority and peer pressure. You were overly dramatic and emotional. You learned how to argue. You were depressed when you realized you were weak or incompetent at some things. You were heartbroken when friendships went sour, and boyfriend/girlfriend relationships ended. You wanted so bad to fit in with your peers. You would die to be popular, and you did stupid things to achieve that, like taking crazy risks, or through musical choices, fashion, the kids you hung out with, the teams or clubs you joined, or by being weird. You were rash, and made impulsive decisions without thought about consequences, fuelled by the raging hormones that don’t settle down until you are in your 20’s. It is a volatile time of self discovery, and confusion. Pissing off your parents by doing something behind their backs at school was/is textbook teenage behaviour.
When we adults think back to our own adolescence, being called gay (or some more obnoxious synonym) was the biggest slur, and we tossed that pejorative around indiscriminately. It has changed dramatically in schools, and since way more kids are confident enough to come out now, those slurs are used far less than in past decades. Everyone in school has friends or classmates who are gay or trans. Kids have evolved, and yet we continue to think in our older paradigm. We adults must update our thinking. Students are approaching this in a very different way. We need to be wise.
It is often abundantly clear very early on when kids are gay or trans, and parents and teachers often know before the kid realizes it. That is often a difficult realization for parents, because they think it will be a tougher road for their child. It has been my experience that gay/trans kids are bright, sensitive, and often very funny. Within their peer group they are often popular because they are obviously taking risks, being different, and are charismatic. But research notes that they often have bigger mental health issues. They have more on their plate to deal with, including adults who are still acting in their own old fashioned paradigm. It’s tough. In today’s world, kids will say or experiment with labels or behaviours that we wouldn’t have dared to back in our day. Some might say they are gay or trans for a variety of reasons even when they aren’t, and once they figure out who they are, or graduate, drop the claim. At the time, it seemed interesting and cool, and they were allies for gay and trans students. So we have kids actually living the struggle, and we have a large group experimenting with it. Normal teenage behaviour.
And so, we need to give kids way more time and room to figure out who they are, and as much as it pains me to say it, the UCP policy on this issue is probably giving students the time to make intelligent choices that they are not equipped to make as rash adolescents. Is the messenger deeply flawed, and disingenuous? Absolutely. Is the policy mean-spirited and cynical? Going by the UCP track record, the answer is a resounding yes. Cruelty is a feature, not a bug in the UCP/TBA world. But I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day. Sigh.
As to trans athletes competing in their preferred gender, this is an incredibly complex issue, and those opting for fairness and inclusivity seem to be forgetting the undeniable advantage it will give trans women, and the many issues it raises for their opponents on the playing surface, and in the locker room. We need to be equally sensitive to all participants. I have no clue on how this can be solved. There will be losers.
Ok lots of issues raised here, some of which I wholeheartedly agree with; I also think the UCP is trying to troll nominal liberals into cutting off their nose to spite their face and I don’t think it’s something they should consider lightly when responding.
Having said that, your final point about trans athletes has no bearing in reality. For one, it’s sexist, there is no given that a male born person will be naturally more athletic than a female born person especially being that many sports come down to skill and training and have little to do with whether or not someone is naturally gifted. Marco Pantani was a much more naturally gifted athlete than Lance Armstrong but he still lost to him. A nominal amateur level female cyclist will easily beat an amateur crit racer of either gender, in fact dividing sport by biological sex is pretty weird when you get right down to it. This is not even considering that trans athletes obviously have several additional disadvantages, no one is taking hormone blockers so they can be a better athlete, that is pure nonsense.
I’m sure with the years he’s been training DJC has met a woman or two who could whip the ass of many of the grown ass men in this province whining about CHILDRENS sports, their maleness not withstanding. It is absurd on its face, and they should really knock it off, the bullies.
Bird: I have had my ass kicked by karatekas of all ages and genders, it is true. And still I keep going back to the dojo! DJC
Queen Danielle’s latest weird presentation on a policy that the UCP base needlessly obsesses about is both humourous and dark. In the end, what she announced is no different than the policy and practises that are in place by medical and mental health professionals already. I’m sure she knows that her base actually believes Jordan Peterson and Tucker Carlson when they do on and on about an “epidemic of sex-changes” across the world. Men want to women and women want to be men — that’s real Biblical mass hysteria stuff.
Of course, a sensitive promo video does not make legislation, but we’ll have to see what comes of this. If the UCP do nothing, because doing nothing is always the best for that bunch, it’s hoped that all this will go the way of the Trudeau government come the next election.
And it remains a humourous point of why does the UCP and their base anyways run to leadership that is terminally-single and childless (Kenney) or terminally-childless (Smith) for family policies?
I guess they’ve learned the more extreme elements are the ones most likely to overcompensate by being extremely extreme.
Alberta’s Confederacy of Dunces, more commonly referred to as the United Conservative Party, have been telling us for years that parents know best. Unless, of course, David Parker is ideologically opposed to something, in which case the parent has no say in the matter. We were notified recently of this glaring hypocrisy by the Parker Government’s spokesperson, Danielle Smith.
This appears to be the Rebel of the left (which is great to have various voices represented). Just wanted to add mine to say that as a parent, I am thankful that I don’t have to wonder what they’re going to be exposed to that we will have to work through at ages far too young. I have never had an issue before this year, but I am breathing a sigh of relief that kids are protected while adults and mature minors are being given a lot of autonomy (17 still seems young to be but they struck a balance and hopefully an appropriate one).
Ma’am school curriculum is not now and has never been a secret. You’re free to be as informed about your child’s educational development as you ever have been.
I would argue that the UCP doesn’t have an ideology, it just has a collection of prejudices.
Will someone please tell me if Marlaina Smith was sent to the school psychologist for using a name other than the legal first name on her birth certificate? “Danielle” is her middle name and coincidentally the female version of the name “Daniel”. Was her grandfather Kolodnicki also sent to see a psychologist for changing his surname to “Smith”?
People who do not use their legal names as assigned at birth have no right to tell others that they cannot do likewise; it doesn’t matter if it’s an adult or a child. I don’t care that she uses her middle name instead of her first name, not do I care why. I’ll just call her “hypocrite”.
By the way, what school psychologist? Those are a breed so rare that getting a referral for a name choice likely won’t happen for years, if at all. Children already wait years for psychoeducational assessments that may never happen because the education system is so underfunded. Most kids wanting to choose their own names at school will never get to step one without parent permission.
Abs: It’s not uncommon in some families, including some that I am related to by blood, to call children by their middle names. Ms. Smith claims that was the case in her family and, notwithstanding her tendencies to tell porkies about everything, this is quite believable. That aside, I’m starting to think we’re all going to have to change our pronouns, and our children’s pronouns, to they and them, as a gesture of solidarity and to sow confusion in the land. DJC
Just think of the mass confusion and bureaucracy needed to allow middle names at school only for non-trans kids. Or what about kids who want to be called by their first and middle names, even though their names are not hyphenated, or the kids with two surnames that are not hyphenated? Or how about kids already undergoing treatment with puberty blockers? Will they be allowed to continue using their preferred names at school? How many name enforcement and inspection staff will this take (need to see prescription for medications and copy of birth certificate and/or parent signature)? Will non-trans kids have to switch names to Marlaina’s choice in the fall, or will they be allowed to continue using whatever name they use now with or without the proper paperwork?
Did Marlaina think to consult children about any of this? Of course not. As she said, children’s brains do not form until the day of their eighteenth birthday. Until then, their brains are outside their bodies, in their parents’ brains, like a brain marsupial. Until then, children should be seen and not heard and preferably not seen and preferably not exist, which would save money on daycares and schools and health.
Why must children be stigmatized and treated like they have some psychological problem over a name? Does everyone who uses a name other than the first name on their birth certificate have a mental health problem? Look in the mirror, Marlaina. Using a non-legal name is not a crime unless it is done for the purpose of fraud; again with the mirror.
Use of middle names or nicknames, like Fred instead of Frederick, has gone on since forever. No parental permission was needed until now. Perhaps the solution is to call all students by their surnames (and first initial in the event of two students with the same surname), as is done in other countries and even here in Alberta in some classes and grades. Did your Phys Ed teachers in high school ever use anything but your surname?
Red tape and more wasted time and money inspecting things that needed no inspecting until Marlaina and her band of merry men came along. Item on Marlaina’s to-do list: “Add Minister of Pelvic Inspections for Girls’ Sports to caucus before the fall school term and the first draft of this ministerial order or bill”?
Pandering to her religious right and TBA supporters? Absolutely. Hypocritical and cynical? For sure. But also very smart, Danielle is not as stupid as some would wish. As DJC points out the NDP needs to watch out here. Lisa Young says “And I fear that many Albertans will be satisfied with this ‘compromise’.” I think the majority of voters here in BC and probably Canada would also be satisfied with this compromise.
Anyone in her caucus going to step fwd? Not a chance, get realistic.
This is also a distraction from problems like Emily elucidated in her fine post above. “Don’t worry about all that shit, concentrate on what I want to talk about” the premier would say. People who can’t get basic medical care are supposed to get riled up that 12 year-olds can’t get transgender surgery? We’re supposed to protest because some 130 kg roid monster isn’t allowed to self-identify and complete on the high school wrestling team? I guess people can fund raise for a court challenge but I’ve got better things to contribute to…
The announcement sure takes the important issues of the day off the back burner!
Smoke and mirrors .
TB
Hi. Can someone comment on the articles in the walrus regarding concept of honesty versus belief speaking in lies dam lies Jan 25 2024 by Timothy caulfield and article by Michelle Cyca. on parents rights on sept 2023 March 4 children Plus check out university of Bristol study in article sept25 2023. Pioneering research links the increase in misleading information by US politicians to changing public perception of. honesty and click to link to previous research social media sharing of low quality news sources by political elites in Oxford academics sept 22 2022 And Canadian national observer. The far right takeover of UCP is now complete by max fawcett Nov 7;2023 I would appreciate your opinion Dave and that of fellow commentators Also thank you to teacher Emily. As a student nurse in the late 70 s. Children who wanted and did try and did succeed in getting readmitted to Pediatrics by consciously mismanaging their diabetes as life on the unit with caring nurses was better then a non life with an abusive parent parents off the street and into a place that was warm with good food and caring people Thx to all Signed very old RN
In a related story, when the call went out for people to fill the position of genitalia inspector for girls sports.
250 000 male ucp-tba faithfuls volunteered to do the job for free. When asked why for free, most were heard saying “to keep children safe!”.
Embrace diversity.
“Marlaina** Smith ” (as in that’s the name her parents assigned to her .
** Thanks Lisa)
“I am confident that Albertans do not want children to make irreversible decisions that impact their “REPRODUCTIVE”
health. ” Boss Baby anyone??
Parker on X: “whiteness is awesome ” ,
part 3. Family structure
—-nuclear family: father, mother, 2.3 children is the ideal family unit
—husband is breadwinner and head of household
—wife is homemaker and subordinate to her husband
—children should have own rooms ,be independent .
Take Alberta Back to the 50’s, not the 1950’s, I mean the 1750’s.
I am embarrassed to say right now, that Alberta is where I was born and raised; and totally offended that Marlaina is saying “all Albertans ” as if that is a fact.
NO ,Marlaina, not all Albertans think that Ron Desantis is a hero. If that’s your choice, pack your bags and join him in Florida, I’m sure he’d be happy to put you on the school board there !!
Once more, the cruelty is the point.
As a gay man in his 60’s, I have a few things to say about this issue.
First of all, nobody should be surprised at the nasty mean-spirited intent behind this proposed legislation. The UCP, and its predecessor parties have been very vocal about their contempt for the gay community. Now they just get to pick on a larger group. The requirement for teachers to snitch on students will push meaningful discussions underground and puts teachers in an untenable position.
Having said that, I have no problem with the prohibition of puberty blockers and cross x hormone treatments. The permanent and negative impact of these “treatments” cannot by understated and is well supported with research. Children who are given puberty blockers will likely be infertile adults unable to achieve orgasms. As an adult, I understand that taking steroids to increase muscle mass can have many negative health impacts. Administering cross x hormones to children while they are going through puberty is just a bad idea.
The whole concept of gender fluidity is scientific fantasy. You are either male or female. If you are suffering from long-term chronic gender dysphoria, then transitioning as an adult may be the best solution. But this must be done over time and under close medical and psychological supervision.
I am dismayed at the appropriation of the LGBT community by queer and trans activists. Spaces for gay men were long ago taken over, resources for gay youth have been replaced with resources for trans youth. Our rainbow flag, which was the symbol of inclusion has been altered to include POC, trans and others. The LGBT acronym now resembles a wifi password and activists are trying to rewrite history by claiming a “trans woman threw the first brick at Stonewall”. Gay men have actually been beaten up at pride parades by trans activists! And because I am gay, I am supposed to be a full-on ally to the trans community or else I’m transphobic. You can spot the queer activists a mile away from their uniform which consists of brightly coloured hair, facial piercing and pronouns. I’m done with all of it.
It’s very curious that the state is getting involved in what goes on in the bedrooms of the nation. I thought we had a constitution to protect against this sort of thing.
Your claims are spurious at best and not backed by evidence, which you fail to provide.
Ok and once again biological sex and gender are two very different things, and not even the first one is always a binary. Really sad to see someone use their minority status to attack an even smaller minority.
Second, puberty blockers were the original compromise with the far right, and if you believe it stops there, I have a bridge for sale.
Bird: Really, gender is just a grammar thing. However, I’m afraid its meaning his expanded to mean sex, since sex is no longer available because it also means … well, sex. DJC
Let nobody mistake these Untamed Clown Posse radicals for libertarians. They’re corporate libertarians and theonomic social conservatives that refuse to regulate commerce, but are more than willing to re-regulate individual behaviour and force the State right back into the nations’s bedrooms from which it was evicted in 1968 by one Pierre Elliott Trudeau — then Justice Minister and Attorney-General of Canada (he became Prime Minster later on that year).
So the party that didn’t like vaccine and mask mandates wants to mandate health care independent of what the various medical boards across Canada say.
Or is that that the TBA/UCP doesn’t like science they don’t understand that comes from experts? They have dogma don’t you know, we don’t need experts!
Dani dearest says she cares deeply for the transgender people. Oh, give me a break. The only person I can see Dani cares for is herself. As they used to say actions speak louder than words and Dani’s words are’t consitent with her actions.
Dani wants more doctors and nurses to move to Alberta. There is going to be one group who won’t be: parents of transgender children.
So politics is her only motivation?
Perhaps this issue could be explored in a more nuanced manner? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/02/opinion/transgender-children-gender-dysphoria.html