Yesterday (November 2nd), Provincial Education Minister David Eggen introduced legislation to ensure all schools establish Gay Straight Alliances if they're requested.

Bill 24 was officially brought to the legislature after nearly 2 years of consultations of students and school boards.

Minister Eggen says if the bill passes, it will apply to all funded schools in the Province.

"Every single school in Alberta that receives public dollars must have a policy that clearly allow students to form a GSA."

The major component of the new bill prohibits any teacher or school official from telling parents if a student has joined a gay straight alliance. Eggen says some of the changes needed to be added to the bill after past comments from Jason Kenney, saying that teachers should have the authority to tell parents, unless the students are in a abusive home.

Eggen did not agree with those comments, calling situations like that dangerous, as their mandate is trying to create a safe environment for LGBT students.

When asked if any penalties would be executed for schools or boards that do not comply, Eggen said there will be.

"If we run into a circumstance where someone is willfully opposing the law then we have accreditation that could be removed and funding could be removed as well."

Eggen says that the majority of school boards have already established policies for allowing GSA's and says all boards must follow by June 30th, 2018.

If passed, the bill would come into effect on April 1st.

 

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