In a press release issued on Oct. 31, Alberta’s ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) introduced Bill 29, titled the “Fairness and Safety in Sports Act.” The proposed legislation intends to limit women’s divisions to “biological females” while proposing co-ed divisions for transgender athletes to participate in sports.
“The proposed Fairness and Safety in Sport Act establishes a balanced approach to protect the integrity of female athletic competitions by ensuring women and girls have the opportunity to compete in biological female-only divisions, while also ensuring transgender athletes are able to meaningfully participate in the sports of their choice,” the press release stated.
Once passed, Bill 29 would apply broadly across Alberta and affect the sports organizations and sporting competitions of school boards, universities and local governments. This legislation seeks to safeguard “fairness and safety” in sports, while promising new regulatory guidance on eligibility for female-only divisions. Regulations under the act will also specify criteria to limit participation to athletes born female, while supporting the formation of additional co-ed divisions. (Related: UN REPORT: Biological female athletes have lost nearly 900 medals to transgender athletes.)
“Through our Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, we are ensuring that athletes can rely on that fairness and safety. At the same time, we are committed to working with our partners to ensure that transgender Albertans will also have meaningful opportunities to participate in the sport of their choice,” Smith added.
The UCP government consulted with sports organizations, educational institutions and experts during the drafting process. Although the legislation is still in development, further details and the exact language of the bill are expected in the coming weeks. Additionally, the proposed act would provide legal liability protections for organizations enforcing the new regulations.
Hellbound and Down 