Calgary MLA introduces bill to combat hate groups
Aim is to stop unlawful organizations from registering as societies in Alberta
A Calgary NDP MLA is bringing forward legislation aimed at keeping new hate groups from registering as societies with the province.
A private member’s bill introduced by Craig Coolahan on Thursday would give the registrar of societies within Service Alberta the ability to turn down groups that promote hate speech.
The bill would change The Societies Act to require that organizations have a “lawful purpose,” meaning groups that advocate violence or genocide in violation of federal hate speech laws would not be allowed.
Coolahan said the bill is aimed at organizations such as white supremacist groups, though he isn’t aware of a specific organization currently or recently applying for society status.
He noted the Ku Klux Klan was registered as a society in the province until 2003.
“It won’t allow these hate groups to become legitimized,” said the Calgary-Klein MLA.
“The second big piece of that is ... it doesn’t allow them to accumulate wealth, because as a society they can own property, they can inherit property, these types of things.”
Organizations in Alberta are not required to register as a society, but doing so allows it to own property and enter into contracts under the society’s name instead of in the name of individual members. Individual members can also not be held liable for a registered society’s debts.
Coolahan said the intent is not to review the activities of the roughly 50,000 existing registered societies, but provisions in the private member’s bill that require society directors to ensure activities remain lawful could be used to deregister a group if illegal activities come to light.
He said his bill is modelled after provisions that already exist in British Columbia’s legislation and there should be no effect on any other organizations.
“I’ve heard a couple of questions around limiting free speech or is this going to impact religious groups. Absolutely not ... as long as it’s a lawful purpose it should be fine,” said Coolahan.
Coolahan said the bill has the support of his NDP colleagues and he expects opposition parties will also back the legislation. He is hopeful it will be passed in the spring sitting of the legislature, which is scheduled to end June 7.