Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this week I attended the opening of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the U of A. This is a first in the country, and we should be proud. I also want to note a government of Alberta web page dedicated to understanding and stopping homophobic bullying. Obviously, certain ministers in government understand that homophobia equals discrimination and is wrong. To the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit: isn’t it time to move that acknowledgement from a website and put into legislation?

Mr. Blackett: Well, Mr. Speaker, I don’t know how many ways I can say it. I’ve said it so many times. Maybe I’ll say it in language that they understand: nyet.

Ms Notley: Well, that was great. I was pleased to learn that Camp fYrefly, a camp for sexual minority youth, received funding from the Minister of Children and Youth Services, and – wait for it – I’d like to commend the minister for funding an organization that is committed to stopping oppression and marginalization and helping youth find strength through times of cruelty. To the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit: given that this government acknowledges that children deserve a kids camp free of homophobia, doesn’t he also believe they deserve a province free of homophobia?

Mr. Blackett: Mr. Speaker, I don’t know how many times we have to say it. We have a province where we have a Human Rights and Citizenship Commission that states through the Supreme Court judgment that people that are gay or lesbian will not be discriminated against. If they want to go and lodge a complaint before the commission, they are free to do so. Our website, all our documentation states that they are free to do so, and we will operate in a province free of discrimination against people on the basis of racial discrimination. We are going through a review, as I’ve mentioned umpteen times in this House. When we get through the review...

The Speaker: The hon. member. [interjection] The hon. Member has the floor.

Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On one hand we tell kids to expect equality on the basis of sexual orientation, yet on the other this minister will not act to stop the inherent slap in the face which is the absence of that protection from the human rights code. Now, I would like to commend the Minister of Education, though, for combating homophobia in secondary schools through the safe and caring schools initiative. To the minister of culture. At least some of the cabinet understands that homophobia does not belong in schools. Shouldn’t we be willing to hold the rest of society and the rest of us to the same standard?

Mr. Blackett: Well, you know what, Mr. Speaker? In our party we have one native, we have four Sikhs, we have two Chinese, we have two Caribbean, and we have somebody from the Philippines. We understand diversity. We understand it for all. We have a multicultural education fund that goes out and helps educate. We fund organizations, including gay, lesbian, transsexual, transgendered individuals, on education of their rights and promoting equality for all Albertans.