By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Divisive issue at city hall

Motion to condemn conversion therapy leads to emotional council debate

Mar 3, 2020 | 9:42 AM

Red Deer city council found itself divided Monday night over whether to formally condemn the controversial practice of conversion therapy.

The issue came to council through a notice of motion tabled two weeks ago by Councillor Dianne Wyntjes and seconded by Buck Buchanan. The motion included five defining clauses and rather than deal with them as a whole, as is most common, council voted on them individually.

The first clause to “reiterate our City’s values and beliefs in creating and supporting a diverse, welcoming, inclusive, safe and supportive community” was passed unanimously.

Next, that council “supports and upholds that conversion therapy negatively impacts the physical and psychological wellbeing, safety, security, dignity, inclusion, and equality of LGBTQ2 persons and residents” passed 6-3, with councillors Tanya Handley, Frank Wong and Vesna Higham dissenting.

The third, which “endorses the provincial regulations that ensure no licensed health practitioner or mental health provider can provide conversion therapy,” received an 8-1 vote with only Handley opposed.

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The fourth was an amended clause suggesting that any future federal legislation must align with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was approved 5-4. Mayor Tara Veer and councillors Buck Buchanan, Lawrence Lee, and Handley voted no.

Lastly, a clause calling for city administration to monitor the issue at a federal and provincial level, also received approval.

Veer expressed her concerns that any efforts by council to pass what would be a “symbolic ban” on conversion therapy would be an overreach.

“History soberly reminds us of the grievous consequences of what happens when governments try to sanitize qualities, characteristics or identity out of a population,” she explained. “But that same history also soberly reminds us of the grievous consequences of when governments try to control the thoughts, beliefs, opinions and freedom of expression of a population.”

Councillors Lee and Frank Wong also expressed concerns over jurisdiction during Monday’s debate.

Veer said despite the issue being so polarizing it is possible to denounce the “physically abusive practices of conversion therapy while still upholding the rights of individuals to discuss the matter.”

Higham denied that her intent was to embed the issue in religion and morality, saying instead that one that should be focused on how the federal government opts to define conversion therapy.

“If we define conversion therapy so broadly as to potentially include things like counselling by spiritual leaders or youth pastors, or if the mayor talking about this issue now becomes potentially criminalized under the Criminal Code, that’s a problem under our charter,” Higham told rdnewsNOW.

“It’s not just freedom of religion, it’s a problem under freedom of thought, of belief, conscience and expression. All of those are protected under the Charter.”

Higham added that she isn’t condoning conversion therapy where it involves coercive or barbaric actions imposed on a person.

“But if someone wishes to come forward and talk about it, people should not be sanctioned or subject to potential imprisonment because they’re willing to talk about it from a spiritual or moral, or whatever kind of lens you want to put on it. This is not a religious issue,” she explained.

Before council elected to vote on each clause individually, they did hold a vote on the first four together, to which Higham voted in support. Minutes later, she requested a re-vote, citing her conscience was telling her she had to register a no vote instead.

Meantime, Wyntjes, who was once on the verge of tears during debate, believes the way council handled the matter will only increase divisiveness.

“I don’t believe it was a moral issue. I believe it’s a people issue for our community and citizens of the LGBTQ community. I also believe it’s interesting how individual councillors convoluted the resolution to bring in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” she said.

“I think there was a reason why our Minister of Justice didn’t put that in his letter (to the city). When you talk about Charter rights, those go to the Supreme Court of Canada, and I don’t know if the definition of conversion therapy will eventually get there, but that was certainly not my intent. My intent was to show the LGBTQ community that they have allies on council.”

Veer wrote Alberta Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer last fall asking for clarification on the province’s stance on conversion therapy. Schweitzer replied by saying that while Alberta does not have specific legislation banning conversion therapy, the Government of Alberta does oppose and condemn it.

Schweitzer added that “any practice of conversion therapy in Alberta is illegal by definition and should be reported to the proper authorities.”

It is not clear, however, what penalties the province may levy.

In Edmonton, where a ban on conversion therapy was passed in December, there exists a fine of $10,000 should any business be caught practicing conversion therapy.

Veer says The City of Red Deer’s legal team verified that municipalities have no such power.

“I cannot speak for what the legal at the City of Edmonton received, but it is our understanding that even the Edmonton report carries language that identifies (their ban) as solely symbolic,” she explained. “Our council is responding to the information we received from our City administration when we requested legal clarification about the practice in the province.”

Edmonton, Rocky Mountain House, Fort McMurray, Stratchona County and St. Albert have all approved municipal bylaws banning conversion therapy. Lethbridge city council voted 7-2 last month asking their staff to draft a bylaw for consideration, while Calgary council has made a similar request.