A corporate lawyer and a professor who has been a vocal critic of Alberta害羞草研究所檚 planned legislation on pronouns in schools are both now senators representing the province.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday that Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon has named Daryl Fridhandler and Kristopher Wells to fill vacancies in the Senate.
The statement from Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 office notes Fridhandler is a corporate lawyer, arbitrator, mediator and businessman with over 40 years of legal experience.
It says Wells, who is a Canada Research Chair in the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth, is an educator, a scientific expert, and a champion for the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
The statement from the prime minister害羞草研究所檚 office says the two new senators were recommended by an independent advisory board for Senate appointments that was established in 2016, which it says ensures senators are independent.
Wells has been a vocal critic of the Alberta government害羞草研究所檚 plan for a policy requiring parents to consent before children under 16 can change their names or pronouns in schools.
害羞草研究所淚 congratulate Mr. Fridhandler and Dr. Wells on their appointment as Parliament害羞草研究所檚 newest independent senators. Their experiences will make them important voices for their communities,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said in Saturday害羞草研究所檚 announcement.
The governor general appoints senators, but by convention, they are appointed on the advice of the prime minister.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith responded to the appointments on social media, accusing Trudeau of disregarding the interests of Albertans.
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害羞草研究所淒espite our province害羞草研究所檚 repeated democratic election of senators-in-waiting ready to represent Albertans害羞草研究所� interests, he has chosen to appoint left wing partisans who will do whatever he and the Liberals order them to,害羞草研究所� Smith posted on X.
Wells has written on social media that Smith害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渙bsession害羞草研究所� with the transgender community is 害羞草研究所渂eyond weird.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭his trans panic she is manufacturing is hateful, hurtful and needs to stop,害羞草研究所� Wells wrote earlier this month on X.
Smith has said her government will introduce legislation on pronouns in schools in the fall legislature session that begins in late October.
It害羞草研究所檚 part of a suite of policies she first announced in January, which also include restricting transgender youth access to gender-affirming health care, banning transgender participation in female sports and requiring parental consent or notification.
Saturday害羞草研究所檚 statement from the PMO notes Wells 害羞草研究所渉as used research and advocacy to help advance diversity, equity, and human rights in Alberta and across the country.害羞草研究所�
It also said he has received accolades that include the Alberta Centennial Medal and the Alberta Award for Study of Canadian Human Rights and Multiculturalism.
Fridhandler, meanwhile, has served as a legal advisor for a range of companies and non-profits and has served on the boards of numerous organizations, the PMO statement said.
The Canadian Press
