(Photo From Facebook/Jennifer Johnson UCP in 2023)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

amends not made: lacombe pride

Campaign on to reinstate Lacombe-Ponoka MLA booted from UCP caucus for transphobic comments

Apr 27, 2024 | 4:00 PM

A movement is afoot to have Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson reinstated into the United Conservative Party (UCP) caucus.

Those behind it are the Red Deer-South Constituency board of directors, whom in recent days submitted a letter to Premier Danielle Smith, “fervently urging,” her to seriously consider their request.

The UCP MLA for Red Deer-South is Jason Stephan, though he is not named in the letter, nor has he shared it on social media as of April 27.

The letter begins by noting that the board unanimously agreed on a resolution that says the party should immediately welcome Johnson back into caucus.

Johnson infamously referred to transgender kids as, “more than a teaspoon of dog poop in the cookie batch,” during the 2023 provincial election campaign, and espoused a conspiracy theory about litter boxes in schools. She was then booted from the party by Premier Smith.

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Johnson, who still won her constituency in a landslide, eventually issued a statement apologizing.

May 17, 2023 apology:

Smith then left the door open for Johnson to one day rejoin caucus, saying on CTV Calgary in May 2023 that Johnson would have, “a lot of work to do.”

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BACKGROUND

• Lacombe-Ponoka UCP candidate espouses school litter box conspiracy; NDP calls for her ousting
• ‘Embarrassed’: Alberta UCP candidate sorry for comparing transgender kids to feces
• Smith: ‘Redemption’ possible for UCP candidate who made feces comment

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rdnewsNOW again reached out to Johnson for this story, but we haven’t heard back.

The letter from the constituency association goes on to say that Johnson is well-liked and that she has shown continued support for the UCP through legislative votes.

“Member Johnson has, in our view, sufficiently made amends for her comments that came to light during a closely fought election. It is our view that the time has come to move past this incident and welcome Member Johnson into caucus,” the letter reads.

“A testament to her character is her conduct from the time this incident came to light until now, providing a genuine apology to those offended by her remarks, reaching out to members of the LGBTQ community and meeting with those who were willing to meet, and continuing to represent her constituents.”

It goes on to say that the request is for unity rather than continued discord, “before it becomes a major issue within our party.”

However, local 2SLGBTQ+ agencies are not so convinced Johnson has done the work.

Lacombe Pride Society has also written a letter to Premier Smith, which was shared on Facebook.

The organization says it has not seen any tangible steps by Johnson to indicate she’s moved past her, “egregious beliefs.”

“From the time these comments arose, we have put on multiple events across central Alberta inviting the public to attend and learn more about the Queer community. She has attended none,” the letter says, also pointing to a surge in anti-2SLGBTQ+ vandalism, notably at the Ponoka Church.

“For her to attack some of the most vulnerable youth in our province and degrade them down to that level and put no effort in to assure the Queer community in her riding that she has moved forward, is concerning on a multitude of levels.”

Lacombe Pride adds in the letter that they understand beliefs about the Queer community differ, but that an elected official must represent everyone in the riding.

“Meeting with a few individuals and saying you’ve, ‘done the work,’ but not actually ‘walking the walk’ tells us that [her] work is superficial.”

Another statement from Central Alberta Pride Society (CAPS) doesn’t take a stance one way or the other on Johnson being reinstated, but urges Lacombe-Ponoka’s MLA to educate herself on transgender issues and engage in meaningful dialogue with members of the transgender community to gain a better understanding of their lived experiences.

“CAPS and Lacombe Pride Society encourages all elected officials, community leaders and stakeholders to promote inclusivity and respect for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity or expression,” CAPS writes.

rdnewsNOW contacted the premier’s office for comment on Saturday.

Smith’s office says, “The premier’s previous comments on this topic stand and there has been no decision made to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson to caucus.”

If MLA Johnson responds, rdnewsNOW will provide an update.

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