Skate Canada to stop holding national, international events in Alberta
In its decision, organization cites province's bill affecting transgender athletes
Skate Canada says it will no longer host major events in Alberta following a review of the province's legislation on the participation of transgender athletes in women's sport.
"Following a careful assessment of Alberta’s Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, Skate Canada has determined that we are unable to host events in the province while maintaining our national standards for safe and inclusive sport," the organization said in a statement emailed to CBC News.
A spokesperson for the organization said the decision only applies to national and international-level events. Alberta skaters are not barred from participating in Skate Canada programs and competitions, they said.
"We will continue to monitor legislative developments in the province and will reassess hosting opportunities as circumstances evolve."
The legislation, also known as Bill 29, came into effect Sept. 1, and blocks transgender athletes from Alberta who are 12 and older from competing in female amateur sports.
It’s part of
a trio of bills Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party government introduced last year, which officials say protect the well-being of children and youth, and increase parent access to information and decision-making power over children.
Last week, the government
invoked the notwithstanding clause to protect the bills from legal challenges.
Proponents, including Smith, say Bill 29 is about fairness on the playing field, so girls are not battling opponents with biological advantages. Detractors say it's about stigmatizing and punishing those in the transgender community.
The government
said this summer that out-of-province transgender athletes are exempt from the ban, as it does not have the authority to regulate athletes from different jurisdictions bound by other provincial or international guidelines.
Athletes and sports organizations in the province — such as the Alberta branch of Skate Canada — remain subject to the provincial law.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/skate-canada-events-alberta-transgender-9.7018092
