UCP Convention: Smith Says Parental Rights a ‘Fundamental Core Principle’ of Her Government

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks to party faithful at the United Conservative Party annual general meeting in Calgary on Nov. 4, 2023. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY—In her address to the UCP general meeting on Nov. 4, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her government places high importance on parental rights, as the annual convention contemplated a number of resolutions related to the issue.

“I want every parent listening today to hear me loud and clear: parents are the primary caregivers and educators,” Ms. Smith told the nearly 4,000 delegates on the second day of the United Conservative Party convention that started on Nov. 3, at the BMO Centre in downtown Calgary.

“I want you to know that parental rights and choice in your child’s education is and will continue to be a fundamental core principle of this party and this government, and we will never apologize,” she added, and receiving a standing ovation from her audience.

Ms. Smith also emphasized the need to provide more educational choices to parents, such as by increasing the capacity and quality of the province’s public and separate charter, independent, and homeschooling systems.

During a press conference after her speech, Ms. Smith was asked if her government would commit to introducing a parental rights bill similar to those adopted in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, requiring parental consent if students under the age of 16 wish to change their names or pronouns in school.

Ms. Smith noted that there are already some forms of parental rights protection mechanisms in place in her province, such as the right to opt in on matters of sexuality and religion. She said her party caucus will further deliberate on the issue, taking into consideration the desires of the grassroots based on the UCP policy voting results at the convention.

Parental rights are a central focus of policy resolutions short-listed for voting at the UCP convention. Among the proposed 30 resolutions, a number of them touched on issues pertaining to parental rights and sexuality in educational settings.

UCP members have voted in support of a resolution calling on the Alberta government to require teachers, schools, and school boards to obtain written consent from the parents or guardians of students under the age of 16 before changing their names or pronouns in school.

Another resolution that was also passed requests that teachers, schools, and school boards ensure children from kindergarten to grade 12 would not have access to materials involving age-inappropriate sexual content.

The proposed policy resolutions that are voted on by party members at the convention are non-binding and may not necessarily be adopted by the party leadership. Nevertheless, the resolutions serve as reflections of issues that concern the party’s grassroots.

Energy Regulation

Among a number of key issues she addressed during her speech at the UCP convention, Ms. Smith highlighted her government’s response to the federal net-zero emissions plan. She emphasized the need to balance natural resource development with reducing emissions, which she said her government seeks to achieve through the use of new and emerging technologies.

“The entire world is looking to us right now to demonstrate that reducing emissions and developing our natural energy resources are not in conflict with each other,” she said. “The only way the world will ever meaningfully reduce emissions while avoiding energy poverty for billions is to develop our energy resources using the new and emerging technologies being funded by that very resource development.”

She criticized the federal government’s persistence with regulations impacting energy sector developments, and referenced the recent Supreme Court decision on the Impact Assessment Act, also known as Bill C-69, which found the fed’s legislation to be largely unconstitutional.

“Even despite losing on Bill C-69—that legislation was struck down by the Supreme Court—they are still hell-bent on imposing those destructive leftist policies on the people of Alberta,” Ms. Smith said. “You know what I say to them? Not a chance.”

The federal government has said it will amend the Impact Assessment Act so it meets all constitutional requirements.

“We intend to make it clear in an amended act that the prevention of adverse environmental effects within federal jurisdiction is the government’s ... policy intent, that this has always been our mission,” fedearl Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said during a press conference on Oct. 26.

The government of Alberta is opposed to a number of Ottawa’s legislative and policy requirements, which the UCP government says infringe on provincial jurisdiction.

Ms. Smith’s government is on board with net-zero emission plans by 2050, but opposes the federal government’s 2035 net-zero electricity grid requirement, saying it wouldn’t be feasible for the province.