To the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in Legislature Assembled:

A strong, independent and properly funded Alberta Human Rights Commission is essential to protect the rights of people in Alberta to be free from discrimination and harassment. 

The undersigned are deeply concerned about the lack of action from the provincial government of Alberta to ensure a properly functioning Human Rights Commission that is able to appropriately adjudicate complaints and prioritize its role as advocate and educator in the human rights arena.

We, the undersigned residents of Alberta, petition the Legislative Assembly to:

1.    Guarantee the political independence of a properly funded Alberta Human Rights Commission by amending the Alberta Human Rights Act to direct that the Chief Commissioner of the Alberta Human Rights Commission report directly to the Alberta Legislative Assembly and that the Chief Commissioner be treated as an officer of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. 

2.    Revise the organizational model of the Alberta Human Rights Commission to formally separate education and advocacy from the complaint resolution and tribunal functions.

3.    Expand the Alberta Human Rights Commission’s mandate and funding to explicitly include education and advocacy for systemic change to foster equality and reduce discrimination.