Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Alberta's Education Minister David Eggen Tells Schools To Come Up With LGBTQ Policy

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Nov, 2015 01:36 PM
    EDMONTON — Alberta's education minister has sent a letter to school boards in the province reminding them that provincial law requires them to create a safe learning environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students.
     
    David Eggen says the boards must have policies in place and Alberta Education will be reviewing them to make sure there is evidence of support for the establishment of gay-straight alliances and queer-straight alliances.
     
    He says the province doesn't anticipate that every school will have an alliance, but he wants to know that every board has a procedure in place should a student request that an alliance be established in his or her school.
     
    Eggen's letter was sent to the boards of public, separate, francophone and charter schools.
     
    He says schools have until March 31 to comply.
     
    Eggen says all students and staff deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and learning environments must respect diversity and foster a sense of belonging.
     
    "To all students looking for safe and caring schools, this government stands with you and will support you," he says.
     
    Last month, Eggen stepped in to a feud among Edmonton Catholic school trustees who disagreed on a policy to protect gay and transgender students, announcing he had hired an outside adviser to help the board pass an inclusive policy.
     
    He also said he hadn't ruled out dissolving the board if it fails to meet expectations.
     
    Asked at the time why he didn't implement a provincewide policy on transgender and same-sex equality issues, Eggen would only say he expects all school boards to implement policies in line with existing legislation.
     
    Kris Wells with the University of Alberta's Institute for Sexual Minority Studies has said only eight of Alberta's 61 school divisions have LGBTQ policies _ none is Catholic.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Quebec Adoptees Turning To Social Media To Find Information About Their Origins

    Quebec Adoptees Turning To Social Media To Find Information About Their Origins
    Julie Levenhagen was known only as "baby Agathe" when she was adopted from a Montreal hospital at nine days old.

    Quebec Adoptees Turning To Social Media To Find Information About Their Origins

    Health Minister Jane Philpott Plans To Engage With Provinces, Territories As Soon As Next Week

    Health Minister Jane Philpott Plans To Engage With Provinces, Territories As Soon As Next Week
    Canada's new health minister Jane Philpott says she plans to engage with provincial and territorial counterparts as soon as next week as the Liberals set the wheels in motion to establish a new health accord.

    Health Minister Jane Philpott Plans To Engage With Provinces, Territories As Soon As Next Week

    Two Winning Tickets Sold For Friday's $60-million Lotto Max Jackpot

    Two Winning Tickets Sold For Friday's $60-million Lotto Max Jackpot
    One was sold in Edmonton, and the other in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador.

    Two Winning Tickets Sold For Friday's $60-million Lotto Max Jackpot

    2 Men, 1 Woman Dead After U-Haul Van Collides With Another Vehicle Near Merritt, B.C.

    2 Men, 1 Woman Dead After U-Haul Van Collides With Another Vehicle Near Merritt, B.C.
    RCMP say the occupants of the van — two men and a woman — died at the scene of the collision (on Highway 5A/97C) six kilometres east of Merritt

    2 Men, 1 Woman Dead After U-Haul Van Collides With Another Vehicle Near Merritt, B.C.

    Murder Charges Laid After Man Found Bloodied, Unconscious On Vancouver Street

    Murder Charges Laid After Man Found Bloodied, Unconscious On Vancouver Street
    Police say a man was found lying on the ground near Station Street and National Avenue unconscious and covered in blood around 3:30 a.m. Friday.

    Murder Charges Laid After Man Found Bloodied, Unconscious On Vancouver Street

    Nirbhaya, a captivating piece of theatre tossing discussion on sexual violence

    Nirbhaya, a captivating piece of theatre tossing discussion on sexual violence
    Nirbhaya is a piece of theatre that grips you with its compelling depiction of issues tormenting women, emotionally and physically. 

    Nirbhaya, a captivating piece of theatre tossing discussion on sexual violence