MP Crockatt pulls out of Pride Parade in Calgary
Although her participation in the annual pride parade is no longer an issue, competing candidates and transgender advocates are pressing Tory MP Joan Crockatt to explain why she voted against a federal trans rights bill.
Crockatt, the federal Conservative candidate in Calgary- Centre, announced late Tuesday night on Facebook that she won’t march in the Calgary Pride Parade this year, following controversy surrounding her voting record on Bill C279, a bill that would have amended the Canadian Human Rights Act to include gender identity as a “prohibited ground of discrimination.”
Transgender advocates said the bill would be a significant step forward for protecting trans rights in the country. Crockatt, who marched in last year’s parade, voted against it.
Crockatt wrote on her Facebook page that she will “mark Pride in another way this year.”
“The Pride Parade celebrates diversity — something I do every day working for residents in Calgary Centre,” Crockatt wrote.
“I do not want my participation to divert attention away from the efforts of organizers of this event. That is why I will mark Pride in another way this year, and continue to discuss issues of importance to the community with as many people as I can at the doors. I wish organizers my very best.”
In a release earlier this week, Pride Calgary said it was aware of Crockatt’s voting record on C- 279 and determined that she would still be allowed to participate in the parade.
“The individual review of the voting records for politicians entering in the parade is not a part of the vetting and approval process for entry in the Calgary Pride Parade, and the voting history on Bill C- 279 was not specifically reviewed at the time of approval,” the statement read.
According to the statement, Pride Calgary organizers discussed the issue with Crockatt.
“This discussion revealed that the opposition vote was made after consultation with Egale Canada, a national human rights trust focused on promoting LGBTQA human rights, and one that has been a strong advocate for the passing of Bill C- 279 without amendments,” said the statement.
However, no such consultation with Egale took place, said Helen Kennedy, the organization’s executive director.
“We have no record of ever having had a consultation with her,” Kennedy said Wednesday.
“I can tell you for a fact that we never, ever would have told her to vote against C- 279,” she added. “Categorically.”
When asked about the supposed consultation with Egale, Pride Calgary’s Craig Sklenar declined to comment.
“That’s our statement. We don’t have any more comments on conversations between Joan and Egale as we were not part of any of those assumed conversations,” said Sklenar, the director of government relations.
Kennedy said her main concern is Crockatt’s voting record on C- 279, and the Conservative Party’s stance on trans rights.
“Will she vote in favour if she gets re- elected?” Kennedy said. “Where does her party stand on this issue? That’s as big a question as her own position.”
Fellow Calgary- Centre candidates Kent Hehr and Jillian Ratti both criticized Crockatt on her vote against Bill C- 279.
Ratti, the NDP candidate in the riding, said Crockatt owes the trans community “an explanation” for the way she voted.
“Obviously, I think that Pride should welcome anybody who is supportive of equal rights for transgender people,” Ratti said. “But I don’t think that her voting record shows that she has been supportive of them.”
“The Pride Parade made pronouncements that you must be an ally,” said Liberal candidate Hehr.
“Ms. Crockatt’s voting record in the House of Commons has led many people in the LGBTQ community to be suspect of her commitment to that community.”
Crockatt’s campaign manager, Alan Hallman, told the Herald Crockatt is not commenting on the controversy past what she wrote in her Facebook post.