Parent licences recommended
Abortionist gets award
Sex change on birth record
Tremblay charged with assault
‘Gay pride’ complaint
No to same-sex marriages
B.C. gets first gay judge
Parent licences recommendedCAPE BRETON, N.S. – A sociologist and a political scientist at the University College of Cape Breton have called for a licensing system for parents. Katherine Covell and R. Brian Howe say such a system would impose three requirements: that parents demonstrate an ability to be responsible for their own lives before being allowed to assume responsibility for a child’s life; that parents sign a contract agreeing not to abuse or neglect the child or allow anyone else to; and that parents be required to complete a government-certified parenting course. The scheme has understandably been not well received in some sectors. “It’s a hare-brained idea,” observed Martha Friendly of the Canadian Policy Research Network.
Abortionist gets award
BANFF, Alta. – Ellen Wiebe of Vancouver received an award for “outstanding leadership” at a Federation of Medical Women of Canada meeting here. Wiebe, who has reportedly been performing experimental abortions using the drugs methotrexate and misoprostol, was honoured for addressing “the medical versus surgical management of spontaneous, first-trimester abortion.” The federation said award recipients demonstrate “a passionate desire to make things better for womankind. A woman who follows this route must have personal integrity that takes her beyond thoughts of personal gain to do what is right for the majority.”
Sex change on birth record
MONTREAL – A transsexual has won a precedent-setting legal battle to have the sex designation on her birth certificate changed from female to male. The woman, known only under the pseudonym of Daniel Aranoff, had undergone hormone treatments and surgery to remove her female characteristics, including breasts and ovaries. But Quebec’s director of civil status required the individual, who has been living as a male for five years, to also have her vagina removed and male sex organs constructed before being considered male. Aranoff and her lawyer contested these requirements, and the case was settled out of court.
Tremblay charged with assault
CALGARY – The man who made international headlines trying to stop girlfriend Chantal Daigle from having an abortion in 1989, slit his throat while police moved in to charge him with assault recently. A cross-city rescue effort was then launched to save the life of Jean-Guy Tremblay, now 35. He was taken to hospital, where he was listed in serious, but stable, condition. Tremblay was previously up for a charge of unlawful confinement. He moved to Calgary in 1992. A neighbour said Tremblay looked sad and upset, and indicated he had been crying day and night since his girlfriend left him.
‘Gay pride’ complaint
KELOWNA, B.C. – Mayor Walter Gray joined the list of Canadian municipal leaders hauled before human rights commissions, when he went before the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal under accusation of denying a “public service” because of sexual orientation. Two years ago, he was asked by homosexuals to proclaim a lesbian and gay pride day. Instead, Gray removed the word “pride” from the proclamation. The human rights commission – headed by a lesbian activist – sent the matter to a tribunal. Gray said it’s unfortunate he’s been placed in a position “where I’m told I must put my signature on words prescribed by someone else.”
No to same-sex marriages
EDMONTON – The Alberta government, following a four-hour caucus meeting, has announced that it will invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Constitution to prevent same-sex marriages from taking place. “The moral compass says ‘No.’ It says people of the same sex ought not to be married,” said Premier Ralph Klein. The decision was supported unanimously by his caucus, and was in tune with a poll that demonstrated most Albertans oppose homosexual marriage and the extension of further rights to homsexuals. On the other hand, the government also indicated it is looking at the concept of “registered domestic partnerships.”
B.C. gets first gay judge