127 lines
5.4 KiB
Markdown
127 lines
5.4 KiB
Markdown
# Freedom From Discrimination
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!!! quote "Overheard in Alberta"
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"I'm not discriminating, I just think everyone should be exactly like me!"
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[Call Muhammad Yaseen, Associate Minister of Multiculturalism](tel:7806442212){ .md-button }
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[Email Associate Minister of Multiculturalism](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/immigration-rights){ .md-button }
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[Call Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women](tel:7804223559){ .md-button }
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[Email Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/gender-equity){ .md-button }
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## Why Do We Need Freedom From Discrimination?
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Because surprisingly, treating each other like actual people isn't a radical leftist plot. Wild concept: maybe our worth as humans shouldn't depend on our backgrounds, beliefs, or whether we drive a Ram vs. F-150.
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### Our Current "Freedom" System
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!!! example "A Typical Discrimination Experience"
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1. We face discrimination
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2. We're told we're "too sensitive"
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3. We hear "that's just how things are"
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4. We're advised to "toughen up"
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5. We watch as discriminators claim they're the real victims
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6. We repeat until burnout
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## What Real Freedom From Discrimination Looks Like
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- Equal job opportunities (yes, even if our names aren't "John Smith")
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- Fair housing access (without the "sorry, just rented it" runaround)
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- Education without barriers (our learning shouldn't depend on our postal codes)
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- Healthcare without prejudice (all our symptoms are valid)
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- Public spaces that welcome everyone (not just the demographic majority)
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### But What About Our Rights?!
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!!! info "Plot Twist"
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Our right to be jerks isn't actually a protected human right. Shocking, we know.
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## The Economic Freedom Argument
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When we eliminate discrimination:
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- Our talent pools expand
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- Our innovation increases
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- Our productivity soars
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- Our communities thrive
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- We all win (even those who fought against it)
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### What We're Missing
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- Effective anti-discrimination laws
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- Real consequences for discriminatory behavior
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- Cultural competency training that isn't just a PowerPoint
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- Systemic change (not just "diversity day" at work)
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- Actual representation in leadership
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!!! tip "Pro Freedom Tip"
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If we think anti-discrimination policies limit our freedom, let's try experiencing discrimination for a day. Suddenly those "political correctness gone mad" complaints seem pretty trivial.
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## Common Forms of Discrimination We Face
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### Race & Ethnicity
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- Not everyone named Mohammad is a foreign worker
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- Let's stop asking "where are we really from?"
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- We don't need to speak slower - we all understand each other fine
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### Gender & Identity
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- We can all be CEOs (and not just of MLM businesses)
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- Our trans rights aren't up for debate
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- Our gender doesn't determine our career path
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### Age & Ability
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- Experience isn't just for "old people"
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- Youth isn't a character flaw
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- Accessibility isn't "special treatment"
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### Religion & Belief
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- Our freedom of religion includes freedom from religion
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- Our beliefs don't need to be everyone's beliefs
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- We don't all celebrate the same holidays
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## The Bottom Line
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Freedom from discrimination means creating a society where we can all use our talents and abilities without artificial barriers. It means understanding that our diversity isn't just a buzzword - it's how successful societies actually work.
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!!! warning "Reality Check"
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Our discomfort with change isn't more important than someone else's right to exist.
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!!! note "Let's Get Involved"
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Ready to fight discrimination? Let's start by examining our own biases - yes, even those we think "don't count." Because real freedom means freedom for all of us, not just people who look and think like us.
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---
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## Sources & Evidence
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### Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation (2024-2025)
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- In December 2024, the Alberta government passed **Bills 26, 27, and 29** - the most restrictive LGBTQ+ legislation in Canada
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- **Bill 26** bans gender-affirming care for youth under 18
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- **Bill 27** requires parental permission for pronoun changes for students under 16
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- **Bill 29** bans trans women from sports teams (age 12+)
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- A court injunction blocked the care ban (June 2025)
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- In December 2025, the government **invoked the notwithstanding clause** to override Charter protections
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- PM Trudeau called these policies "**most anti-LGBT of anywhere in the country**"
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- Source: [CBC News - Alberta trans legislation](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-trans-bills-1.7089234)
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- Source: [Globe and Mail - Alberta notwithstanding clause](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/)
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### Medical Opposition
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- The **Alberta Medical Association** opposed the gender-affirming care ban
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- The **Canadian Pediatric Society** opposed the legislation
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- Mental health experts warn these policies increase suicide risk for trans youth
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- Source: [Alberta Medical Association](https://www.albertadoctors.org/)
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### Indigenous Discrimination
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- Indigenous peoples face systemic discrimination across Alberta systems
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- Indigenous women murder rate: **6.79 per 100,000** (drastically higher than non-Indigenous)
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- Indigenous people overrepresented in police encounters and incarceration
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- Source: [Statistics Canada](https://www.statcan.gc.ca/)
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### Employment Discrimination
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- Discrimination remains prevalent in employment and housing
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- Human Rights Commission faces backlogs in processing complaints
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- Source: [Alberta Human Rights Commission](https://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/)
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