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Two new senate appointments for Alberta include critic of school pronoun policy

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A corporate lawyer and a professor who has been a vocal critic of Alberta’s planned legislation on pronouns in schools are both now senators representing the province.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday that Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon has named Daryl Fridhandler and Kristopher Wells to fill vacancies in the Senate.

The statement from Trudeau’s office notes Fridhandler is a corporate lawyer, arbitrator, mediator and businessman with over 40 years of legal experience.

It says Wells, who is a Canada Research Chair in the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth, is an educator, a scientific expert, and a champion for the 2SLGBTQI+ community.

The statement from the prime minister’s office says the two new senators were recommended by an independent advisory board for Senate appointments that was established in 2016, which it says ensures senators are independent.

Wells has been a vocal critic of the Alberta government’s plan for a policy requiring parents to consent before children under 16 can change their names or pronouns in schools.

“I congratulate Mr. Fridhandler and Dr. Wells on their appointment as Parliament’s newest independent senators. Their experiences will make them important voices for their communities,” Trudeau said in Saturday’s announcement.

The governor general appoints senators, but by convention, they are appointed on the advice of the prime minister.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith responded to the appointments on social media, accusing Trudeau of disregarding the interests of Albertans.

“Despite our province’s repeated democratic election of senators-in-waiting ready to represent Albertans’ interests, he has chosen to appoint left wing partisans who will do whatever he and the Liberals order them to,” Smith posted on X.

Wells has written on social media that Smith’s “obsession” with the transgender community is “beyond weird.”

“This trans panic she is manufacturing is hateful, hurtful and needs to stop,” Wells wrote earlier this month on X.

Smith has said her government will introduce legislation on pronouns in schools in the fall legislature session that begins in late October.

It’s part of a suite of policies she first announced in January, which also include restricting transgender youth access to gender-affirming health care, banning transgender participation in female sports and requiring parental consent or notification.

Saturday’s statement from the PMO notes Wells “has used research and advocacy to help advance diversity, equity, and human rights in Alberta and across the country.”

It also said he has received accolades that include the Alberta Centennial Medal and the Alberta Award for Study of Canadian Human Rights and Multiculturalism.

Fridhandler, meanwhile, has served as a legal advisor for a range of companies and non-profits and has served on the boards of numerous organizations, the PMO statement said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 31, 2024.

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End of Manitoba legislature session includes replacement-worker ban, machete rules

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WINNIPEG – Manitoba politicians are expected to pass several bills into law before the likely end of legislature session this evening.

The NDP government, with a solid majority of seats, is getting its omnibus budget bill through.

It enacts tax changes outlined in the spring budget, but also includes unrelated items, such as a ban on replacement workers during labour disputes.

The bill would also make it easier for workers to unionize, and would boost rebates for political campaign expenses.

Another bill expected to pass this evening would place new restrictions on the sale of machetes, in an attempt to crack down on crime.

Among the bills that are not expected to pass this session is one making it harder for landlords to raise rents above the inflation rate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024

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Father charged with second-degree murder in infant’s death: police

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A Richmond Hill, Ont., man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his seven-week-old infant earlier this year.

York Regional Police say they were contacted by the York Children’s Aid Society about a child who had been taken to a hospital in Toronto on Jan. 15.

They say the baby had “significant injuries” that could not be explained by the parents.

The infant died three days later.

Police say the baby’s father, 30, was charged with second-degree murder on Oct. 23.

Anyone with more information on the case is urged to contact investigators.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

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Ontario fast-tracking several bills with little or no debate

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TORONTO – Ontario is pushing through several bills with little or no debate, which the government house leader says is due to a short legislative sitting.

The government has significantly reduced debate and committee time on the proposed law that would force municipalities to seek permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a car lane.

It also passed the fall economic statement that contains legislation to send out $200 cheques to taxpayers with reduced debating time.

The province tabled a bill Wednesday afternoon that would extend the per-vote subsidy program, which funnels money to political parties, until 2027.

That bill passed third reading Thursday morning with no debate and is awaiting royal assent.

Government House Leader Steve Clark did not answer a question about whether the province is speeding up passage of the bills in order to have an election in the spring, which Premier Doug Ford has not ruled out.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

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