Lawyer Marty Moore takes us through the good and the bad of proposed changes to Alberta's Education Act. There is a lot in here that firmly establishes parental rights and puts some serious guardrails around gender transitions for minors. Parents will now have to opt-in to explicit sex education in the classroom. However, the Education Act will allow sex education to occur without parental notification during activities and in groups occurring outside the classroom. This means that explicit sexual material could be easily shared by activists with young kids on field trips, at assemblies, and in any group that meets outside of class time, and parents may never hear about it. The opt-in provisions will give parents a false sense of control over what their kids are learning.

Alberta Government, Oct 31, 2024: Supporting Alberta students and families--Proposed amendments to the Education Act will support student success and well-being in Alberta schools.

CBC, Oct 31, 2024: Alberta tables bills on transgender youth health care, students' pronouns, opt-in sex education

Justice Centre Achievement, Oct 19, 2019: Challenging the constitutionality of secrecy in schools

Justice Centre, Jan 18, 2019: Affidavit of B.B.

Justice Centre, Jun 26, 2019: Affidavit of J.J. (autistic student re: Firefly event)

Justice Centre, Feb 12, 2019: Affidavit of A.A.

NPR, Feb 14, 2023: Some Kansas lawmakers want to punish doctors who help transgender kids transition

The Audit, Apr 17, 2024: Who Will Underwrite the Legal Liability for Puberty Blocker Harms?

Daily Mail, Mar 13, 2024: 'America needs to wake up': Doctors and politicians praise England's 'landmark decision' to ban puberty blockers for children over fears about drugs' long-term harms - as they call for similar in US

Forbes, Jun 14, 2023: Increasing Number Of European Nations Adopt A More Cautious Approach To Gender-Affirming Care Among Minors

Government of Saskatchewan, Oct 20, 2023: "Parents' Bill Of Rights" Passed And Enshrined In Legislation

Chris Selley in The National Post via MSN, Nov 1, 2024: The war over transitioning kids is still blazing in New Brunswick

Theme Music "Carpay Diem" by Dave Stevens

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Lawyer James Manson brings us up to date on the $290 million lawsuit brought by Ottawa resident Zexi Li and others against the Freedom Convoy. In court on Oct 28, Mr. Manson put forward his arguments in an appeal against the dismissal of his Anti-SLAPP motion that would have ended the lawsuit. It's still early days, he says, but he's already put forward some interesting evidence, like the fact that it was the Ottawa police, and not the truckers, that created the traffic problems in downtown Ottawa back in January and February 2022.

Justice Centre, Oct 25, 2024: On Monday, court will hear arguments in $290 million lawsuit against Freedom Convoy

Justice Centre Active Case, Feb 5, 2024: Zexi Li launches $290 million lawsuit against Freedom Convoy participants

Justice Centre, Aug 8, 2023: Update on Anti-SLAPP Motion in Class Action Lawsuit against Freedom Convoy Participants

Justice Centre, Feb 7, 2024: Justice Centre in court today opposing application against organizers of Freedom Convoy

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Sep 14, 2020: Supreme Court rearticulates test under Ontario “anti-SLAPP” legislation

Superior Court of Ontario: Best Practices Guide For Class Actions in Ontario

Theme Music "Carpay Diem" by Dave Stevens

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We discuss a recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision, Mathur v. Ontario, which was the subject of a recent National Post column by Jamie Sarkonak. In this case, a group of teenagers had gone after the Ford government when it lowered the CO2 targets created by the previous government. The kids claimed the change in government policy violated their Charter rights by endangering the future. The teenagers lost the first round, but now the Appeal Court has ordered a new trial, indirectly suggesting they might have a right to a stable climate.

Court of Appeal for Ontario, Oct 17, 2024: Mather v. Ontario

Jamie Sarkonak in the National Post, Oct 22, 2024: Court says lack of economy-killing climate targets may violate the Charter

Supreme Court of Canada, Apr 2, 2024: Vriend v. Alberta

Friends of Science, Aug 6, 2019: Alligators in Alaska

Ken Gregory in Friends of Science, Jun 14, 2024: Climate Sensitivity by Energy Balance with Urban and Natural Warming (PDF)

CanLII, Jun 20, 2024: Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, SC 2018, c 12, s 186

Supreme Court of Canada, May 25, 2021: References re Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act

Financial Times, Feb 21, 2015: Chairman of climate change panel accused of sexual harassment

Wikipedia: Rajendra K. Pachauri

BBC, Feb 24, 2015: Profile: Climate chief Rajendra Pachauri

Carbon Brief, Jan 12, 2023: Tonga volcano eruption raises ‘imminent’ risk of temporary 1.5C breach

Watts Up With That?, Aug 24, 2024: Climate Change Weekly #516: Hunga Tonga Eruption Behind “Record” Warming

Kenneth P. Green, Fraser Institute Bulletin, Apr 2024: Extreme Weather and Climate Change (PDF)

CanLII, Sep 9, 2021: O.M.S. v E.J.S., 2021 SKQB 243 (Ruling by M.T. Megaw)

Justice Centre Concluded Case, May 11, 2023: Trinity Bible Chapel, et al. v. Ontario

Theme Music "Carpay Diem" by Dave Stevens

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