Email from Womens Legal Education and Action Fund Inc. Harmful legislation affecting women and girls in Alberta   Dear John, Earlier this month, a leaked government memo revealed that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is planning to invoke the notwithstanding clause — a move that would block legal challenges to controversial laws that violate the equality rights of women and girls in Alberta. If the Premier succeeds, it means the courts — our last line of defence — could be silenced. Through its controversial laws, Alberta is: Requiring parental consent for sex education, which includes education regarding consent and healthy relationships; Requiring all girls and women who want to participate in women’s-only competitive sports to confirm their sex assigned at birth;  Requiring parental consent for name and pronoun changes at school for youth under 16; and   Severely restricting access to gender-affirming care for minors.  We're calling on our supporters, and especially those of you based in Alberta, to tell the province’s elected representatives that it is unacceptable for the government to use the notwithstanding clause to harm women, girls, trans, and non-binary people. Sex education prevents sexual violence Evidence shows that education on consent, healthy relationships, and gender equality greatly reduces rates of sexual violence and intimate partner violence. As a feminist organization that has advocated for robust protections against sexual assault for the last forty years, LEAF is deeply concerned that a significant amount of Alberta’s youth may now no longer receive sex education. Supportive school environments that provide comprehensive sex education contribute to improved safety and well-being for women and girls—and now this education is under threat. Increased scrutiny of girls and women in sport The dignity and privacy interests of women and girls are being sacrificed for political gain. In sports, all girls and women are subject to having their gender identities challenged because Alberta now requires girls and women wanting to play in girls-and women-only competitive sports leagues to be cisgender. If a person is challenged, she may be asked to provide her birth registration to the school board or sport governing body to prove that she is cisgender. This will put tremendous pressure on young women to appear “feminine enough”, perpetuating a culture of policing girls’ and women’s appearances. Gender-affirming healthcare saves lives Gender-affirming care is medically necessary for the physical and psychological wellbeing of transgender and non-binary people in Canada – it is life-saving. Such care has been widely associated with significant improvements in mental health among trans youth. Rather than expand access to this life-saving medical care, the government of Alberta wants to severely restrict it. The law restricting gender-affirming care for minors is not currently in effect. This is because a court injunction recognized the harm it would cause to trans and non-binary youth. The government should not be permitted to interfere with a judicial process that seeks to protect the Charter rights of Alberta's youth. Tell the province’s elected representatives that it is unacceptable for the government to use the notwithstanding clause to harm women, girls, trans, and non-binary people. These laws are an attack on the dignity, privacy, and bodily autonomy of every girl, woman, trans, intersex, and non-binary person in Alberta. Precluding legal challenges to these laws through the use of the notwithstanding clause would set an extremely dangerous precedent and send a message to governments across our country that they can override Charter rights no matter the cost. Please call, email, and write... To your local MLA, Premier Smith, and the Ministers and Deputy Ministers of relevant files (Justice, Sport, Education and Childcare, Children and Family Services, Health Services, and Status of Women) and let them know about your concerns. If you are based in Alberta, you can identify who your MLA is and how to contact them using this tool, while ministerial appointments and contact information can be found here. Scroll to the end of this email for a draft template to use in your outreach. Not from Alberta? You can still contribute to the fight for gender justice! Donate to LEAF today and together, we can advocate for access to comprehensive sex education, equality in sport, and the right to gender-affirming healthcare across the country. Thank you for your ongoing support. Sincerely, Ruth Goba, Executive Director, LEAF FIND MY MLA AND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION CONTACT RELEVANT ALBERTA MINISTERS [DRAFT TEMPLATE / SCRIPT] Dear [Name of Representative], My name is [Your Name], an Alberta resident that is deeply frustrated and concerned about the provincial government's intention to invoke the notwithstanding clause to pass and uphold laws that hurt our children, women, girls, and transgender youth. [Please insert which aspects you are personally concerned about and why, as a personalized note will have more impact than an entirely templated message]. To fulfill your duties as a democratically elected representative that informs policy that affects every Albertan, I ask that you advocate against this decision and take accountability for its harms. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Postal Code] DONATE TO LEAF Follow Us / Suivez-nous Womens Legal Education and Action Fund Inc. | 180 Dundas Street West Suite 1420 | Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8 CA Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice