Athletes and sports organizations across Alberta are preparing for new laws impacting transgender women and girls in female sports divisions.
The United Conservative Party introduced Bill 29, the Fairness and Safety in Sports Act this October, with the stated goal of protecting the integrity of female athletic competitions.
Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow introduced the bill on Oct. 31. If enacted, the bill will require sports organizations to create “biological female-only” divisions.
“Why does it matter if trans girls get to play sports? They are people too, and athletes, and that’s what they enjoy doing,” said Mila Preville, an Alberta Junior Female Hockey League player and fitness trainer. “Why would we limit that?
“I just think they’re jumping to conclusions.”
Preville is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. They said the province is trying to govern the personal lives of transgender Albertans.
“I would say the law is only justified if cis people are getting the same treatment,” said Preville.
Cisgender is a term used to describe people whose gender identity aligns with the one assigned at birth.
“You’re testing all those cis people to make sure that they’re not on any form of drug, whether it’s performance-enhancing or recreational,” said Preville. “Why would [being transgender] matter if your body is being regulated in the same way that everybody else is?”
NDP MLA Rakhi Pancholi said the bill tackles a non-issue.
“There was no researched or evidenced need that brought this forward, “ Pancholi said during the second reading of Bill 29, “This is based on satisfying conspiracy theorists within the governing party’s base.”
According to Pancholi, terms like ‘sex assigned at birth’ are not used in the bill. But comments from Minister Schow lead her to believe more radical changes could come in the future.
“There could be situations where girls or women who are participating in sport will be asked to prove their gender,” Pancholi said
When Preville was a kid, they played in a mixed-gender hockey league. No one forced Preville to move to a female league. They wanted to continue playing with their friends in Grade 8.
“That was the age everybody switched,” they said. “So I switched,”
Under the new rules, trans kids may have no say on which league they play in.
The provincial government has promised to create and expand co-ed divisions for transgender athletes — but low numbers could make compliance with these changes unfeasible.
“There’s been no financial support behind this bill,” said Mark Kosak, CEO of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).
“We operate at top capacity in terms of the available coaches, the available facilities, the number of officials, the budget for travel and support staff. There isn’t a whole lot of space to create a third division in any of those categories.”
The provincial government has promised to provide detailed regulations to guide sports organizations in developing athlete eligibility policies. The province expects changes will be rolled out over the coming year, with requirements implemented by fall 2025.
