Controversial private member’s bill passes first reading in the Alberta legislature

CALGARY – The UCP government calls it a move to protect the Charter rights of medical professionals, but critics say it could restrict the ability for Albertans to access certain health procedures. In a vote of 36 to 15, Bill 207, also known as the Conscience Rights Protection Act, aimed at reasserting the Charter-protected freedom of conscience and religion for health providers, passed first reading in the legislature Thursday afternoon. The private member’s bill was introduced