Jason Kenney says education minister lobbing 'rhetorical bombs'

Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership candidateJason Kenneyis accusing Alberta's education minister of "lobbing rhetoricalbombs" at schools resistant to the LGBTQpolicies outlined in Bill 10.

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Kenneytook aim at Education Minister David Eggenduring a rally in Edmonton on Wednesday night.

"I'm just suggesting that the ministerand his officials should not seek conflict in the media," he told reporters after the event."If they have a concern or issue with individual schools, they should discretely and with respect and civility sit down and try to find a solution."

Kenney waded into the debate about Bill 10 earlier this month, after theBaptist Christian Education Society said it would not comply with the government's guidelines and legislation.

Bill 10 requires all school boards to allow its students to form gay-straight alliances. Further, each boardhasto create a policy to supportand protect LGBTQ students.

The resistantBaptist Christian Education Societyoperates two privateschools in Edmonton,with roughly 200 students between them. About 60 to 70 per cent of the schools' instructional fundingis from the province.

Pastor Brian Coldwell, chair of the society, publicly accusedEggen ofwielding "dictatorial power."

At the same time, he criticized opposition parties for failing toprotect "fundamental freedoms" of religion and associationby not resisting the legislationwhich was unanimously passed in 2015 by Alberta's then-Conservative government.

Eggenset a Sept. 16deadline by whichthe society mustsubmit written assurance to him that itwon't flout provincial legislation. He hasn't specified any consequences, but saidwithdrawing funding is one option.

I just don't think it's helpful for the Minister to be lobbing rhetorical bombs at independent schools in the media.I don't think that gets any of us any further.- Jason Kenney, Member of Parliament

As for Kenney, hesays Eggen should speak personally withColdwell and his society to find a compromise between provincial legislation thatprotects LGBTQ students,and the religious freedoms ofpublicly funded schools.

"I just don't think it's helpful for the Minister to be lobbing rhetorical bombs at independent schools in the media.I don't think that gets any of us any further," he said.

"These are very sensitive issues and I think they should just deal with them sensitively and discreetly."

When asked what thatcompromise should look like, Kenney answered the province needs to make that decisionwith schools.He was unavailable to answer follow-up questions.

Kenney will step down as the MP for Calgary Midnaporenext Friday.