Ex-Tory minister says NDP should order school boards to adopt LGBTQ policy

CALGARY — A former Tory education minister says Alberta’s NDP government should order school boards, including the Catholic system, to adopt a policy that protects LGBTQ students if they won’t do it voluntarily. Thomas Lukaszuk says the government would take some flak, but it would be in the best interest of students. He says it would be a better move than disbanding school boards that refuse to fall in line. Education Minister David Eggen has given school boards until the end of March to draft policies that protect these students from discrimination. Some Catholic leaders and school trustees oppose the idea for religious reasons, arguing all students are already protected.