Alberta ‘Her vision inspires’ judge steps forward, NDP calls for resignations amid controversy

After what many call an embarrassing ordeal in Alberta over a racist and sexist essay, there are increased calls for the UCP government officials involved to step down.

On Monday, Aug. 8, it was revealed two UCP MLAs judged and awarded a paper with sexist and racist rhetoric third place in an essay contest held in the province.

MLA Jackie Lovely, the parliamentary secretary to Associate Minister of Status of Women Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, admitted to being one of the two MLAs on the judging panel. Armstrong-Homeniuk was the other judge for the contest.

Both Lovely and Armstrong-Homeniuk say they disagree with the sexist and racist rhetoric of the essay, despite being the ones to award it.

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Dr. Rebecca Sullivan, professor of English and gender and sexuality studies at the University of Calgary, says this is a turning point for the UCP government.

“I would hope that their constituents would decide that anyone who agrees with Nazi ideology does not represent them,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan who is also a researcher focused on feminist media arts activism, popular culture and genres, sexual media and performance, equity, diversity, and inclusion, adds the MLAs involved need to address this debacle directly.

“At the very least, I do think they need to resign from those positions, maybe perhaps not as MLAs. Although, I would hope that their constituents would decide that anyone who agrees with Nazi ideology does not represent them,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan points out there were only five essays submitted to the contest in total. She hopes the other two essays that weren’t in the top three didn’t hold even more extreme Nazi ideas when compared to the one which won third place.

Meanwhile, the opposition NDP says this entire ordeal is an embarrassment to Alberta. NDP Critic for Children’s Services Rahki Panchioli is calling for swift punishment to the MLA and associate minister.

“At this point we still do not have a clear explanation as to what and why this happened, but the two options available are only incompetence or that the associate minister for the status of women and the MLA for this area actually endorse these views. Both of those options are completely unacceptable and MLA Armstrong-Homeniuk needs to step down from her role as associate minister immediately,” Panchioli said.

Panchioli also say that Armstrong-Homeniuk has changed course multiple times, not willing to admit any wrongdoing until public outcry forced her hand, hurting Alberta in the process.

“She took two days of changing statements, refusing accountability,” Panchioli said. “This has created national news — it has been an embarrassment to Alberta, it’s been an embarrassment to our business and communities that are looking to attract new people to this province.”