Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan releases statement commemorating Pride Month

Calgary, AB - June 1, 2019:

Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan has issued the following statement in recognition of Pride Month:

“As the first openly-gay Leader of a political party in our province, I am proud and privileged to join with Albertans in celebrating LGBTQ2S+ communities across Alberta.

“Alberta Liberals led all political parties in support for LGBTQ2S+ Albertans in 2014 with Private Member’s Bill 202 to make gay-straight alliances (GSAs) mandatory in schools where students ask for them.

“The former PC government credited the Alberta Liberals as the driving force behind the GSA legislation that eventually became Bill 10, and in 1994 we were the first party to call for sexual orientation to be added as a prohibited ground of discrimination to the Alberta Human Rights Act.

“I urge Premier Jason Kenney to reverse his planned elimination of school GSA club protections for vulnerable LGBTQ2S+ youth and leave these fundamental protections in the School Act in place. He must now represent all Albertans in a fair and equitable manner.

“We have been calling on the provincial government to ban conversion therapy, and will continue to fight for an end to this hateful practice in Alberta and at the federal level, and for progress on other LGBTQ2S+ Albertans’ issues, like fair and accessible access to hormone therapy and Medicare-insured gender reassignment surgery for Trans Albertans.

Alberta Liberal David Khan issues the following statement reacting to the new UCP Government’s first throne speech.

Khan stated, “The UCP’s first throne speech shows a Government that is stuck in the social and economic past.

“While the UCP’s throne speech stated the economy and jobs are a priority, it failed to mention two concrete measures to get Albertans back to work. There was no mention of economic diversification or the new training and education Albertans need to thrive in the future job market. Only paranoia and witch hunts about foreign-funded environmental campaigns and tax cuts for corporations.

“Those same corporate tax cuts will further sink Albertans into debt. While the UCP are quick to cite economists on lowering corporate tax cuts, they’re equally quick to ignore their pleas for Alberta to implement some form of a sales tax. This Government will not get Albertans off the revenue rollercoaster. Basing the fall budget on recommendations of a “blue-ribbon panel” constrained to examine only spending, not revenue options, is reckless and self-defeating.

Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan announces the Alberta Liberal Crime and Justice Policy.

Khan stated, “Alberta Liberals have bold solutions for rising crime and justice system problems. We will put more cops on the street. We will address the root causes of crime - poverty and mental health. We will reduce court wait times and push through family law reforms.

“We will invest $10 million in hiring new police officers. We will create a $100 refundable tax credit for home security. We will provide increased support for neighbourhood watch groups.

“We will strengthen our social safety net to make our streets are safer. More resources will be invested in mental health, addictions and poverty reduction policies. We will expand the use of Mental Health and Drug Courts with counselling services so offenders get more help. We want to stop the reoffending cycle.

“The NDP Government ignored many problems in our justice system. The Minister of Justice made few improvements. Crime and the courts were not a priority for Kathleen Ganley. Alberta Liberals are taking a different approach. We will Walk the Talk on these issues so important to Albertans.

“Alberta Liberals will make our courts work better. We will launch two task forces on family law reforms and reducing court wait times.