EGALE Takes Aim at Ted Morton
May 28, 2006 · By kaqchikel
Equality for Gays and Lesbian Everywhere (EGALE), a rights lobby group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people, is taking aim at Alberta MLA Ted Morton. Morton is a candidate for the provincial Tory leadership. The cheap shots come courtesy of Gilles Marchild, EGALE’s Executive Director.
Suggesting that Alberta Bill 208, a private member’s bill introduced by Morton, was designed to silence teachers, Marchild writes:
The original Bill 208 also included provisions to allow teachers to not [sic] talk about same-sex marriage and other issues contrary to religious beliefs. In other words, it would have allowed them to stick their heads in the sand, pretending they could hide from the outside world and its realities… just like the ostrich.
Clearly, Marchild has not read the proposed bill, for it does no such thing. The portion of the bill which Marchild maligns simply proposed that parents be notified and allowed to withdraw pupils from a classroom when the topic of homosexual marriage would arise. Hardly the gay-hating attitude that EGALE would love to see.
Morton’s Bill 208 related posts here, here and here.
Crossposted to Civitatensis.ca
Given that “the intention [of the Politic] is to provide an intellectually honest viewpoint on the topics of which we write, in order to nurture public discourse and the free flow of information which all of our contributors cherish as the foundation-stones of a free society; it may have been helpful to include a link to the actual text of Bill 208, rather than the opinions of a few other bloggers.
So, here it is.
2006 Bill 208
Second Session, 26th Legislature, 55 Elizabeth II
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA
BILL 208
PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
(MARRIAGE) STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2006
DR. MORTON
First Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Second Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Committee of the Whole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Third Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Royal Assent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bill 208
Dr. Morton
BILL 208
2006
PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS (MARRIAGE) STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 2006
(Assented to , 2006)
WHEREAS everyone has the freedom of conscience and religion under section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Bill of Rights;
WHEREAS it is necessary and proper to affirm the guarantee of freedom of conscience and religion and, in particular, the freedom of members of religious groups to hold and declare their religious beliefs and the freedom of officials of religious groups to refuse to perform marriages that are not in accordance with their religious beliefs; and
WHEREAS it is not against the public interest to hold and publicly express diverse views on marriage;
THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:
Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act
Amends RSA 2000 cH-14
1(1) The Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act is amended by this section.
(2) The following is added after section 11:
Same-sex marriage
11.1 No person or organization shall be deprived of any benefit, or be subject to any obligation or sanction, under this or any law of Alberta, solely by reason of their exercise, in respect of marriage between persons of the same sex, of the freedom of conscience and religion guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Bill of Rights, or the expression or exercise of their beliefs in respect of marriage as the union of a man and woman to the exclusion of all others based on that guaranteed freedom.
Marriage Act
Amends RSA 2000 cM-5
2(1) The Marriage Act is amended by this section.
(2) The following is added after section 3:
Same-sex marriage
3.1(1) Notwithstanding any other enactment, a member of the clergy or a marriage commissioner may refuse to solemnize a marriage where the marriage is between persons of the same sex where to solemnize the marriage would violate the person’s religious beliefs or moral values.
(2) No action lies against a member of the clergy or a marriage commissioner who refuses to solemnize a marriage between persons of the same sex.
School Act
Amends RSA 2000 cS-3
3(1) The School Act is amended by this section.
(2) The following is added after section 3:
Same-sex marriage
3.1(1) No student shall be required to attend and no teacher shall be required to teach that part of a course that has in its curriculum that marriage may be a union between persons of the same sex.
(2) Where part of the curriculum for a course consists of teaching that marriage may be between persons of the same sex, the school must advise the parents of the students enrolled in the course prior to the material being taught.
(3) A student who does not attend for moral or religious reasons that part of a course where the subject of marriage between persons of the same sex is taught shall not be penalized.
(4) A teacher who refuses to teach for moral or religious reasons that part of a course concerning marriage between persons of the same sex shall not be penalized.
Explanatory Notes
Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act
1(1) Amends chapter H-14 of the Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000.
(2) New section concerning those who make statements about same-sex marriage.
Marriage Act
2(1) Amends chapter M-5 of the Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000.
(2) New section providing that clergy and marriage commissioners do not have to solemnize same-sex marriages.
School Act
3(1) Amends chapter S-3 of the Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000.
(2) New section respecting instruction and attendance on the subject of same-sex marriage.
Reading the text of this bill it is evident that Morton’s intent in the bill id to free Orgasnizations and individuals from the tyranny of the jurocracy’s intrusive pseudo legislating to placate string same sex political lobbies.
The civil atrocities which will get a temporary band aid from this legislation include punishing a student or endangering his educational potential because he disagrees on principle/religious conviction with school administrators about sexual preference indoctinating.
Freeing the clergy and churches from criminal liability when they dissent to the dictates of the state which are at odds with their religious convictions.
Freeing the individual to exercise the right of personal choice based in his concience and faith…which recent civily malevolent gay legislating has corrupted into an act of criminal discrimination.
I’m sure many citizens of minority faiths like Sikh, Muslim and Baha’i have breathed a sigh of relief that they will not be made a criminal for their religious convictions on homosexuality.
Bravo Dr. Morton and best of luck in the PC leadership race…we need more liberty minded MLAs like you and less agenda driven social engineers.
I just think it is funny that schools will be required to send a permission slip home before they can talk about same sex marriages. Can you imagine how it will read?
Dear parent,
This semester we are going to talk about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Class. Do you give us permission to talk to your children about recent amendments to the law of Canada? If you would like us to ask your child to leave the classroom while this is being discussed, please let us know.
Signed,
The School Administration
This reminds me of the hordes of outraged parents who crammed my high-school’s gymnasium when the Alberta government introduced sex-education into the curriculum, and the utterly embarrassed students who were forced by their parents to leave the class-room for the three periods a semester while the rest of us were taught about STDs and birth control.
And while I agree that clergy should not be forced to perform marriages that are contrary to their religious beliefs. I don’t understand what you mean by “civil atrocities� and “civily malevolent gay legislating�.
Gay men and women fought for anti-discrimination legislation based on the exact same principles that religious groups fought for at the founding of this great nation. Freedom to be who you are without fear of reprisal (i.e. getting your ass kicked in Europe because you happened to be the wrong religion – for example, Protestant (Ireland), Catholic (England), Jewish (Germany), Muslim (Spain), etc.)
I don’t think Gay Organizations pressed for equal treatment under the law out of malice or malevolence. Do you honestly think that they sat around and said, “Damn it, I really hate those religious bastards… lets stick it to them by making our government treat us like equals under the law. That will show them >�? Give me a break.
Logic like this only works well for melodrama and science fiction novels.
So, allow for freedom of religion. Allow for freedom from discrimination. Talk to your kids about whatever you want at home. But for heaven’s sake, do not make them have to leave the classroom in front of all of their peers because the law of the country changed, and you don’t like it. Teach them to become a part of the political process, and to stand up for what they believe in. Teach them to face the world, and not to be cowards.
Cowards! Right. You’ve really seized the marrow of the issue here. It’d be nice to have a wee bit more understanding and a little less hot air.