Rally at the Legislature and Bill 2 Amendment to be Proposed by the Wildrose Party
AHEA has organized a peaceful, prayerful rally to take place at the legislature on Monday, March from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. The legislature will resume sitting at 1:30 on Monday, March 5 and congregating as a collective outside the legislature building will demonstrate home educator’s support for changing Bill 2.
When: Monday, March 5, 12:30-1:30
Where: Outside main legislature doors
Why: The Premier's office has indicated that they are evaluating whether people care about the changes AHEA is proposing on behalf of home educators. This rally will demonstrate that home educators support making changes to s.16 of Bill 2 Education Act.
Premier Redford is tracking how many people contact Minister Lukaszuk or herself regarding Bill 2 and is being updated twice a day. It is important to show support by continuing to respectfully call the Minister of Education (780) 427-5010 and the Premier’s office (780) 427-2251 and by peacefully gathering at the legislature.
Bill 2 Amendments to be proposed by the Wildrose Party
The Wildrose Party has drafted two amendments to Bill 2 Education Act and will be proposing them in the Alberta Legislature after 2nd reading of Bill 2. The following are the proposed amendments:
Mr. Anderson to move that Bill 2, Education Act, be amended in the 8th recital of the Preamble, by striking out “parents have the right and the responsibility to make informed decisions respecting the education of their children” and substituting “parents have the paramount right and responsibility to make decisions respecting the education of their children”
Mr. Anderson to move that Bill 2, Education Act, be amended by striking out section 16 and substituting the following:
Respect
16 Education programs offered and instructional materials used in schools must not promote or foster doctrines of racial or ethnic superiority or persecution, religious intolerance or persecution, social change through violent action or disobedience of laws.
(this clause is virtually identical to the second half of the previous section as it was written in the old Schools Act)
These amendments are supported by AHEA and HSLDA and are recommended as changes to Bill 2 Education Act.
Background Information:
The Minister of Education tabled Bill 2 Education Act to replace the current School Act. Comprehensive reviews of Acts typically occur only once every 10-20 years, so should this Act pass as law, it will likely be in place for more than a decade.
Bill 2 contains a Diversity and Respect clause, section 16, which is especially problematic to home educators. In an interview conducted by Lifesite with Ms. McColl, the Department of Education spokesperson, Ms. McColl provided frank statements regarding how s.16 is interpreted by the department of education. The implications on home educators are significant. The following are links for informative articles on the issue.
www.lifesitenews.com/news/alberta-readies-to-impose-diversity-education-on-homeschoolers
www.lifesitenews.com/news/exclusive-homeschooling-families-cant-teach-homosexuality-a-sin-in-class
www.lifesitenews.com/news/editorial-canadas-new-tyranny-the-states-takeover-of-the-family
AHEA has been working closely with Home School Legal Defence Association to discern the potential implications of Bill 2 Education Act. While AHEA appreciates Education Minister Lukaszuk’s comments that it is not the intent of their government to have a negative impact on home education, the current wording of the legislation leaves home educating families very vulnerable. Clarification on Bill 2 may be found on the HSLDA website.
Second reading of Bill 2 will likely happen early next week and the Wildrose proposed amendments will be made at a later date, possibly on the 8th or 14th of March.
Remain vigilant in our prayer and lobby efforts.
