CCLA Sounds the Alarm as Alberta Government Entrenches Discrimination Into Law

TORONTO — Bill 9 strips people of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) condemns the Alberta government’s passage of Bill 9, a sweeping and discriminatory law that directly targets trans and gender-diverse people and denies them fundamental rights guaranteed by the Charter.

“Bill 9 imposes sweeping restrictions on trans youth, undermines access to essential health care, denies critical educational supports, and entrenches discrimination in law,” says Aaden Pearson, Staff Lawyer and Trans Rights Legal Fellow at the CCLA. “Even more alarming, the government has chosen to invoke the notwithstanding clause to try to shield this legislation from Charter scrutiny—an extraordinary and dangerous step to deliberately override the constitutional rights of trans and gender-diverse Albertans.”

“The routine, pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause to suspend equality rights and basic freedoms, like access to healthcare, is deeply corrosive to constitutional democracy,” says Howard Sapers, Executive Director at CCLA. “It signals a government willing to place entire communities outside the protection of the Charter. Equally troubling is the lack of democratic accountability and transparency as this legislation was rushed through with minimal scrutiny, public input, and was passed in the middle of the night.”

“It is particularly deplorable that this legislation was passed on Human Rights Day—a day dedicated to affirming dignity, equality, and universal rights,” says Harini Sivalingam, Director of the Equality Program.  “Instead of safeguarding the rights of vulnerable communities, Alberta’s government has chosen to override them.”

CCLA will continue to stand with trans and gender-diverse communities, pursue available avenues to defend constitutional rights, and work to ensure that all Albertans can live with safety, dignity, and full equality under the law.