TESA RESPONDS TO TABLING OF BILL 207: CONSCIENCE RIGHTS (HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS) PROTECTION ACT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Saturday, November 9, 2019 -- ALBERTA
TESA RESPONDS TO TABLING OF BILL 207: CONSCIENCE RIGHTS (HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS) PROTECTION ACT
The Board of Directors and Members of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA), have considered the implications of Bill 207: Conscience Rights (Health Care Providers) Protection Act, as tabled by MLA Williams; and we have serious concerns about how it will potentially impact Albertans. Simply put, Bill 207 opens the door to human rights violations, medical malpractice, and worsening health injustice.
“Our great country and province have enshrined in its’ human rights laws, several human rights in addition to conscience rights. However; human rights are not something to pick and choose; they come as a set,” says Holly Tomm, TESA Director/Board President. “No one should be able to deny healthcare to any Albertan.”
Bill 207 passed first reading on Thursday, November 7, 2019 with 36 voting for the motion and 15 voting against it. The Alberta Legislature is now adjourned for the next week as MLA will have a Constituency Week. Although the MLAs are scheduled to return on Monday, November 18, 2019, the Order Paper for that day (Day 42) currently has the Bill scheduled as being Referred to the Standing Committee on Private Bills and has been assigned a due date of Day 49, which is Thursday, November 29, 2019.
“Providing health care based on conscience rights undermines the very fabric on which human rights are based. This is something health care providers are generally aware of as they undergo training and licensure,” said Tomm. “As part of their education, Health Care Providers are taught that everything is subjective and that everything else, listed as protected grounds under Alberta’s Human Rights Act (race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation) should not mix into providing health care to Albertans, when they require it.”
The Bill as written has the potential for board impacts to all Albertans, when it comes to providing health care. The Bill would include all health providers in Alberta, regulated under the Health Professions Act, and not just physicians, like some media stories are reporting. If implemented, this Bill could allow any health provider in Alberta to deny any Albertan health care services, based on their conscience.
TESA’s mission is to be a witness and a voice for matters concerning trans Albertans. “We are aware that many tarns Albertans already have challenges in accessing transgender health services and this Bill has the potential of making their access to these services even more difficult,” says Tomm. “The proposed Bill could also include restricting other Albertans’ access to medical procedures and treatments, such as abortion, contraception, t medically-assisted dying (MAID), or even from getting a prescription filled. This is why all everyone needs to be made aware of this legislation as it could impact many Albertans”.
TESA has sent a letter to Premier Kenney and to all the MLAs that articulate our Boards concerns with this proposed legislation so that we can all strive to work together to find a better solution for all Albertans as the current Bill 207 is not that solution.
More information about TESA can be found at http://www.tesaonline.org
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Please also see:
Bill 2017: Conscience Rights (Health Care Providers) Protection Act https://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files/docs/bills/bill/legislature_30/session_1/20190521_bill-207.pdf
Alberta Human Rights Act
http://www.qp.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=A25P5.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779811137
Media contacts can be reached at info@tesaonline.org or by phone at Holly Tomm, TESA Director/Board President, 780-717-2744
back to Newsroom | back to About
TESA RESPONDS TO TABLING OF BILL 207: CONSCIENCE RIGHTS (HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS) PROTECTION ACT
The Board of Directors and Members of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA), have considered the implications of Bill 207: Conscience Rights (Health Care Providers) Protection Act, as tabled by MLA Williams; and we have serious concerns about how it will potentially impact Albertans. Simply put, Bill 207 opens the door to human rights violations, medical malpractice, and worsening health injustice.
“Our great country and province have enshrined in its’ human rights laws, several human rights in addition to conscience rights. However; human rights are not something to pick and choose; they come as a set,” says Holly Tomm, TESA Director/Board President. “No one should be able to deny healthcare to any Albertan.”
Bill 207 passed first reading on Thursday, November 7, 2019 with 36 voting for the motion and 15 voting against it. The Alberta Legislature is now adjourned for the next week as MLA will have a Constituency Week. Although the MLAs are scheduled to return on Monday, November 18, 2019, the Order Paper for that day (Day 42) currently has the Bill scheduled as being Referred to the Standing Committee on Private Bills and has been assigned a due date of Day 49, which is Thursday, November 29, 2019.
“Providing health care based on conscience rights undermines the very fabric on which human rights are based. This is something health care providers are generally aware of as they undergo training and licensure,” said Tomm. “As part of their education, Health Care Providers are taught that everything is subjective and that everything else, listed as protected grounds under Alberta’s Human Rights Act (race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation) should not mix into providing health care to Albertans, when they require it.”
The Bill as written has the potential for board impacts to all Albertans, when it comes to providing health care. The Bill would include all health providers in Alberta, regulated under the Health Professions Act, and not just physicians, like some media stories are reporting. If implemented, this Bill could allow any health provider in Alberta to deny any Albertan health care services, based on their conscience.
TESA’s mission is to be a witness and a voice for matters concerning trans Albertans. “We are aware that many tarns Albertans already have challenges in accessing transgender health services and this Bill has the potential of making their access to these services even more difficult,” says Tomm. “The proposed Bill could also include restricting other Albertans’ access to medical procedures and treatments, such as abortion, contraception, t medically-assisted dying (MAID), or even from getting a prescription filled. This is why all everyone needs to be made aware of this legislation as it could impact many Albertans”.
TESA has sent a letter to Premier Kenney and to all the MLAs that articulate our Boards concerns with this proposed legislation so that we can all strive to work together to find a better solution for all Albertans as the current Bill 207 is not that solution.
More information about TESA can be found at http://www.tesaonline.org
-- 30 --
Please also see:
Bill 2017: Conscience Rights (Health Care Providers) Protection Act https://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files/docs/bills/bill/legislature_30/session_1/20190521_bill-207.pdf
Alberta Human Rights Act
http://www.qp.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=A25P5.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779811137
Media contacts can be reached at info@tesaonline.org or by phone at Holly Tomm, TESA Director/Board President, 780-717-2744
back to Newsroom | back to About
