In May, Councillor Natalie Joly called on St. Albert city council to look into passing a series of bylaw amendments that would effectively ban conversion therapy from being practised within city limits, and even suggested imposing a $10,000 fine for those caught advertising or offering conversion therapy to minors in St. Albert. Proposed bylaw amendments would ban conversion therapy under the Land Use Bylaw and prevent people or groups who have conversion therapy as part of their business activities from getting a business licence in St. Albert. Activist Devon Hargreaves started a petition in late 2018 asking the federal government to ban conversion therapy, gathering more than 18,000 signatures. Manitoba became the first province to ban conversion therapy in 2015, mandating that regional health authorities and regulatory colleges ensure conversion therapy is not practised in Manitoba’s health-care system. Joly said she was “thrilled” the motion to have St. Albert city administration draft a bylaw that would help drive conversion therapy out of the city.

Source: thestar July 08, 2019 20:37 UTC