Alberta Human Rights Commission
Alberta Human Rights Act

Protected Grounds:
Race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation

Suggested Changes of the Act with Respect to Volunteers
From
Interpretation 44(1)
(k) “person”, in addition to the extended meaning given it by the InterpretationAct, includes an employment agency, an employers’ organization, an occupational association and a trade union;

To
Interpretation 44(1)
(k) “person”, in addition to the extended meaning given it by the InterpretationAct, includes a volunteer, employment agency, an employers’ organization, an occupational association and a trade union;

Suggested Changes of the Act with Respect to Visible Identity
From:
Discrimination re employment practices
7(1) No employer shall

(a) refuse to employ or refuse to continue to employ any person, or

(b) discriminate against any person with regard to employment or any term or condition of employment,

because of the race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation of that person or of any other person.

To
Discrimination re employment practices
7(1) No employer shall

(a) refuse to employ or refuse to continue to employ any person, or

(b) discriminate against any person with regard to employment or any term or condition of employment, or

(c) remove, refuse or reassign any person who wears symbolic item(s) that reflects their identities,

because of the race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation of that person or of any other person.

Suggested Petition
Information about Petitions
Whereas
The Human Rights of volunteers have been protected by legal practice it is essential that this protection be codified in the Alberta Human Rights Act (AHRA).

And Whereas
Diversity is not always visible, and it should be celebrated, not a target of hate, so protection is needed in the AHRA for persons who’ choose to display their individual identities with respect to the protected grounds of the AHRA, while employed or volunteering.

And Whereas
This is a complex issue and the Alberta Human Rights Commission is best suited to develop a working policy on implementation.

And Whereas
One should not be judged by their identities displayed rather by their actions as a volunteer or employee.

We the Undersigned Citizens of Alberta request the Legislative Assembly to:

Amend the AHRA to protect persons who volunteer.

AND

Amend the AHRA to protect individuals who’s individual identities are based on the protected grounds of the AHRA from removal, refusal, reassignment or retaliation, while choosing to wear symbolic items, that reflects their individual identities, while volunteering or employed.

Suggested Letter to Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
Members of Alberta Legislative Assembly
Notes: Copy, paste and edit to your liking. MLA’s will prioritize responding from persons in their riding.

Dear Member of the Legislative Assembly Full Name.

The Human Rights of volunteers have been protected by legal practice. It is essential that this protection be codified in the Alberta Human Rights Act (AHRA).

Diversity is not always visible, and it should be celebrated, not a target of hate, so protection is needed in the AHRA for persons who’ choose to display their individual identities with respect to the protected grounds of the AHRA , while employed or volunteering.

This is a complex issue and the Alberta Human Rights Commission is best suited to develop a working policy on implementation.

One should not be judged by their identities displayed rather by their actions as a volunteer or employee.

Please consider the following amendments to the AHRA as listed below.

In Solidarity
Your Full Name
Your Address
Your Telephone Number

Amendment 1 44(1) subsection K is amended by replacing the word “an” with the text “a volunteer,”
Resulting In
Interpretation 44(1)
(k) “person”, in addition to the extended meaning given it by the Interpretation Act, includes a volunteer, employment agency, an employers’ organization, an occupational association and a trade union;

Amendment 2 Amend Section 7(1) by adding the following text “(c) remove, refuse or reassign any person who wears an item reflecting their identity,”
Resulting In
Discrimination re employment practices
7(1) No employer shall

(a) refuse to employ or refuse to continue to employ any person, or

(b) discriminate against any person with regard to employment or any term or condition of employment, or

(c) remove, refuse or reassign any person who wears symbolic item(s) that reflects their identities,

because of the race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation of that person or of any other person.