Conversion therapy wrong but more of a provincial issue, council says

By COLLIN GALLANT on February 4, 2020.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Nearly all Medicine Hat city council members support a public debate about banning conversion therapy, and more than half say they would vote yes to shut down anyone offering to change someone’s sexual preference via controversial treatment.

At the same time, most said it’s an issue better dealt with by provincial or federal governments when they were asked by the News following Monday’s council meeting.

Earlier in the day, Calgary city council voted to direct its legal department to draft a bylaw. If passed, it could result in fines levied on anyone holding a City of Calgary business licence who advertises a service to change someone’s sexual identity – typically from gay or bisexual to heterosexual.

Coun. Jamie McIntosh has said in the past he supports such legislation and strongly renewed his stance this week.

“We (council) haven’t had the discussion, but I’m totally in support of what the other municipalities have done,” he said.

“Absolutely. It’s 2020.”

Calgary would become the sixth city in Alberta to bar the practice that critics and the psychiatric community say is damaging. With Edmonton, St. Albert, Fort McMurray and Sherwood Park already passing legislation in the past two months, two-thirds of Alberta residents could be subject to the rules by spring. Spruce Grove’s council passed first reading of a bylaw last week.

Coun. Kris Samraj said more study is needed and council should be fully apprised of the implications.

“I don’t condone it, but it would really depend on the details,” he said. “If an adult wants faith-based counselling, I’m not in a position to tell them what to do.”

He later added that “just because I have an opinion on an issue, doesn’t necessarily mean council should be debating these issues.”

The Calgary motion, co-sponsored by five council members, would likely see prohibition on the service from being offered or advertised within city limits and be enforced through business licensing with fines.

In the United States, some legislators have moved to employ “false advertising” rules to hamper the service.

In August, Alberta Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer told reporters that his government opposes the practice and would work with the federal government on strategies to eliminate it.

The federal government is determining potential changes to the criminal code, a vow renewed last month by federal Health Minister Patty Hadju during a visit to the province.

Mayor Ted Clugston says he is supportive on the issue but says wheels are turning at higher levels.

“I’m completely against it – that’s on the record – but I think some municipalities are jumping the gun,” he said. “I’d think that (Medicine Hat) council would be willing to wait it out on this one … if Calgary and Edmonton are doing it, I think the province will have to act.”

Coun. Julie Friesen said the issue hadn’t been discussed by council, but she would broach the subject.

She also said provincial anti-smoking rules were the result of local community action and a recommendation from Council’s Youth Advisory Board.

“We were ahead of the game and exceeding the provincial regulations – many municipalities were – and the province followed,” she said. “I suspect that will be the case here.”

Coun. Jim Turner said the issue was outside the city’s purview.

“I honestly don’t think it’s a city issue,” he said “I think it’s better left to the province or federal government. It’s a question of how do you enforce it.”

Coun. Robert Dumanowski said local government should be prepared to act on matters that are felt locally.

“We respond to the community’s needs and interests, and if it’s something that has or does become a discussion in the community … I’m sure we’d be responsive to that,” he said.

Coun. Brian Varga said he needed more time to study the issue.

Coun. Darren Hirsch said he would support the debate, but was unaware of any local operations that could be caught up by rules.

“I don’t know if we always have to follow other cities’ direction,” he said. “I’m sure that if anyone of us (on council) thought it was a compelling issue, anyone of us would bring it up.”

Coun. Phil Turnbull called the practice “absolutely barbaric,” saying it is an affront to an individual’s personal freedoms.

He also felt different municipalities would set different rules, thereby creating loopholes whereby minors could be sent away for treatment in places with more lax regulation.

“It really should be a provincial issue to get set rules across the province,” he said.

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