By Kevin Maimann StarMetro Edmonton Mon., Oct. 1, 2018 EDMONTON—The woman who single-handedly defeated the Alberta government in a landmark court case for transgender rights has revealed her name. Cathy J. Fitzpatrick was just 23 years old in 2014 when she sued the province for the right to obtain identification documents that accurately reflect her gender. The case was known as C.F. v Alberta, with Fitzpatrick’s name covered under a court-ordered publication ban at the time. Now living in California, Fitzpatrick created a website in September to combat the hostility facing transgender individuals in the current political climate in the United States. “A lot of people, particularly trans people, are afraid of what might happen to them. For example, there’s been news about trans people being denied passports in the U.S.,” Fitzpatrick told StarMetro in a phone interview. Article Continued Below So she decided this was the … [Read more...] about Edmonton woman who won landmark transgender rights case speaks out for the first time
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Confused about Alberta’s NDP? There’s good reason for that
By Gillian Steward Columnist Mon., April 2, 2018 It was an April fool’s joke about Rachel Notley’s NDP but there was such a ring of truth to it that readers could be forgiven if they fell for it. According to an Edmonton blogger, anonymous inside sources had told him the Alberta NDP was preparing to change the name of the party “to reflect the new political realities of Alberta and Canada.” “Some of our strategists thought it would be a good idea if we could get the word ‘conservative’ or even ‘oil’ in there, or maybe just name the party after the provincial wild flower the Wild Rose,” wrote David Climenhaga, a communications adviser for the United Nurses of Alberta, who writes a political blog in his off hours . Riffing on the NDP government’s turn to the right might not ring true with some Albertans, who spit out the word “socialists” when referring to Notley and her MLAs but it … [Read more...] about Confused about Alberta’s NDP? There’s good reason for that
Jays legend Roberto Alomar joins fight to keep Edmonton ballpark from demolition
By The Canadian Press Tues., March 13, 2018 EDMONTON—A baseball legend who helped the Toronto Blue Jays capture back-to-back World Series titles in the early 1990s is stepping up to the plate to try to keep Edmonton’s river valley ballpark from the wrecker’s ball. Hall-of-Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar has written a letter to Edmonton’s mayor and city council after hearing that the 9,200-seat park may be demolished some day to make room for future redevelopment in the neighbourhood where it’s located. Alomar offered to write the letter when he spoke last month at a fundraising dinner for the Edmonton Prospects, a collegiate summer team that plays in the Western Major Baseball League, and learned the facility’s days may be numbered. Mayor Don Iveson says the ballpark, situated next to the North Saskatchewan River, is not in any immediate danger of being torn down. The Prospects hold a lease on the stadium for at least the next two … [Read more...] about Jays legend Roberto Alomar joins fight to keep Edmonton ballpark from demolition
Alberta to invest $1 billion over 8 years to upgrade oilsands bitumen
By Dean Bennett The Canadian Press Tues., Feb. 27, 2018 EDMONTON—Alberta is investing $1 billion in oilsands bitumen upgrading to get a bigger bang for the buck on its oil. Premier Rachel Notley announced Monday that the money will be used for loan guarantees and grants to attract anywhere from two to five partial oil upgrading facilities resulting in $5 billion in private investment. “This process will help us get full value from our resources, attract billions in investment and create thousands of jobs right here in Alberta,” Notley said. Read more: Pipelines, not carbon taxes, bigger factor for Canadian oil producers to stay competitive with U.S.: report Article Continued Below Driverless trucks at Suncor Energy oilsands mines will result in net loss of 400 jobs Truce called in trade war between B.C. and Alberta The project will begin in 2019 and last for eight years. The goal is to have Alberta’s thick bitumen upgraded in … [Read more...] about Alberta to invest $1 billion over 8 years to upgrade oilsands bitumen
Alberta judge cleared in case where sexual assault victim was shackled, jailed in court
By Dean Bennett The Canadian Press Fri., Feb. 23, 2018 EDMONTON—An Alberta judge has been cleared of misconduct in the case of a sexual assault victim who was shackled in court and imprisoned during her testimony. The Alberta Judicial Council says provincial court Judge Raymond Bodnarek acted on the advice of the Crown and tried to minimize hardship to the victim where possible. The council says Bodnarek could have pushed lawyers on why the woman had to be shackled in court, but the fact he didn’t doesn’t amount to judicial misconduct. “Where Judge Bodnarek made a specific ruling at each stage of the proceedings, the ruling was intended to serve the objectives of the best administration of justice,” the council said in a decision issued Friday. The case involved an Indigenous woman, whose name can’t be published, but who has been referred to under the pseudonym Angela Cardinal. Article Continued Below The 28-year-old was … [Read more...] about Alberta judge cleared in case where sexual assault victim was shackled, jailed in court