Gay-straight alliances blocked by school boards, Sandra Jansen says

Bill 10 is a compromise that allows students a clear course of action towards gay-straight alliances, yet still gives autonomy to school boards against the anti-bullying groups, says Progressive ConservativeMLASandra Jansen.

This doesnt get us all the way there, but its a compromise and it moves us forward, Jansen told CBCs Mark Connolly on Edmonton AMthis morning.

Jansen is the sponsor of the bill, created in response to a private member's bill brought forward by Liberal LaurieBlakemanthat would have forced schools across the province to allow alliances (GSAs).

Jansen said some school boards in the province oppose the alliances being mandatory.

The bill takes autonomy away from the school boards and says they have to do it and the boardsweren'thappy with that.

• On mobile? Listen to Jansen interview here

When asked which school boards did not want gay-straight alliances in its schools, Jansen said she didnt have theinformation.

Tony Sykora, chair of Elk IsalndCatholic School Board and president of the AlbertaCatholicSchool Trustees Association, supported the legislation, calling it a highly emotional topic.

"In some places (GSAs)might be very appropriate," he said. "In others, local decision makers might decide that there areother ways to address those kinds of issues."

Bill 10 forces boards to examinewhat they'redoing to prevent bullying to see how they might do better, he said.

"One of the things Bill 10 does, from what I've seen so far, is that it makes a pretty strong statement that school boards...mustenactpolicies to protect all kids, including kids that are discriminated against for sexual orientation or gender identity."

• On mobile? Listen to Tony Sykora interview here

Jansen said the government bill allows students banned from startinga GSAto ask the Court of Queens Bench for a judicial review, a task critics have describedas onerous.

I am happy to help and the government is happy to help people go through that process, Jansen said.I believe now and always will that every child in every school in the province that wants a GSA should have one.