ARE KIDS SO BAD?

Some Albertans are castigating the provincial government for proposing a bill that would ban adults-only condos and rental homes. Given that the province had little choice in the matter, critics of the move should at least direct their censure toward the actual source of their aggrievement — the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench. Following a charter challenge, a judge’s order in January gave the province one year to add age as a prohibited reason for discrimination into specific sections of the human rights code.

Better yet, given that the resulting amendments introduced Wednesday by Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley make sense, offer reasonable compromises and are, frankly, a long time coming in a modern society that values equal rights and protection from discrimination, detractors of the bill should hold their fire.

Alberta is the only province that does not protect against discrimination on the basis of age for tenancy or occupancy. The loophole has sustained a thriving market for adults-only rental and condominium buildings, particularly in Alberta’s downtowns. It’s led to Orwellian scenarios where pregnant women find blackballing notes under the door or where couples hide their newborns until they can relocate.

If the bill is passed, Alberta will finally outlaw age discrimination when it comes to the sale of goods and services and housing as it already does in employment.

Besides upholding the rights of people who happen to be under 18, the bill promises other benefits: Young professionals who prefer urban lifestyles instead of white-picket suburbs won’t be forced out of downtowns after they’ve had children. In turn, those young families will rejuvenate core neighbourhoods, encourage new businesses to open and fill schools in mature areas.

The proposed legislation has plenty of opponents, including condo owners who have sought out buildings that promised child-free lifestyles — as if adults can’t also be noisy, messy and troublesome neighbours.

A grandfathering clause gives condos with an age minimum under 55 a grace period of 15 years so owners and investors can adapt to the new rules without incurring financial loss.

Older condo owners who still prefer to avoid children can take advantage of the exemption that still allows seniors-only housing for those over 55. Renters won’t have as much time to adapt if the bill passes.

If it takes effect Jan. 1, landlords would no longer be allowed to discriminate based on age.

But residents in those buildings will most likely find children aren’t such bad neighbours after all.