A group focused on economic development in Alberta is concerned about the financial consequences of provincial legislation focused on gender identity. 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce represents queer entrepreneurs and businesses. Executive director Nicholas Rheubottom said his group is concerned about the economic impacts of bills that limit access to health procedures and sports for gender diverse people. Another bill changes rules in the classrooms. Premier Danielle Smith has argued the measures will preserve choice for young people. “Like any chamber of commerce, we represent entrepreneurs,” Rheubottom explained. “Our secondary mandate is to create an inclusive economy here in Alberta. The chamber is non-partisan, but decided to take an active stance after members urged them to do so. Rheubottom said it came down to socioeconomic impacts that could potentially stem from policies. “We are so focused on bringing people (to the province),” he said. “That was the messaging from the Alberta government. “If we are going to stake our economic growth in terms of our reputation, we have to consider how social policies impact our reputation.” Rheubottom points to the legislation that many members of the LGBTQ2 community have deemed harmful and discriminatory. “We are built on a brand,” he said. “We are built on a destination. How do we bring people in to the province and make them want to stay here or spend their tourism dollars?” Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce data shows LGBTQ2 businesses contribute an estimated $22 billion to the economy. Those businesses also supported 435,000 jobs connected to those businesses. The chamber recently hosted an event for entrepreneurs who identified as either transgender, gender diverse or two-spirit. During the event, the executive director heard from business owners who spoke about the ways the legislation would negatively impact their work. “That included added pressures, negative impacts on mental health in able to run their business,” Rheubottom said. “As well, for those working in sports and recreation, it impacted them in very profound ways.” “If those businesses are saying this policy will damage their business and the province, I think we have to take that seriously,” Rheubottom said. Jay Rotteveel is a personal trainer in Edmonton who said the incoming legislation made him question if staying in Alberta would be bad for business. “It definitely came to mind,” he said. “If I don’t feel welcome in this province, why would I do business in this province?” Rotteveel is a member of the LGBTQ2 community. He believes incoming changes could damage Alberta’s brand and economy. “Putting in legislation against a particular community of people — we don’t know the long-term damage,” he said. “This could cost Alberta for decades.” Before the fall session of the legislature, the chamber wrote a letter to the premier, the health minister, education minister and the minister of sport and tourism. “The letter talked about why we thought this needed to be re-thought from a fiscal perspective,” Rheubottom said. “It wasn’t just social policy in a vacuum.” The chamber said the Alberta government has not yet responded to the letter. In a statement to Global News, Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones wrote that “Alberta’s economy is thriving.” “Under our government’s leadership, Alberta has emerged as the economic engine of Canada,” he added. “With only 11.7 per cent of Canada’s population in 2023, Alberta punches well above its weight nationally, representing, 20.5 per cent of Canada’s non-residential investment, 25.4 per cent of Canada’s goods exports; and 49.2 per cent of net private sector jobs gained over the last 12 months. “The Alberta Human Rights Act protects against discrimination based on protected grounds and in protected areas, including gender and sexual orientation. Employers, landlords and service providers cannot discriminate against a person because of the person’s actual or presumed sexual orientation.”
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Opinion: Revisiting the Best Moments in House of the Dragon Season 2VW gearing up to celebrate 50 years of the PoloMINNEAPOLIS — Malik Monk had 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, De'Aaron Fox added 26 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, and the Sacramento Kings rode a gritty performance underneath both baskets to a 115-104 victory against the scuffling Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Monk and Fox combined to outscore the Timberwolves 17-2 over the final five minutes. Domantas Sabonis had 27 points and 12 rebounds as Sacramento snapped a four-game losing streak. Led by Sabonis, Sacramento outscored Minnesota 64-36 in the paint. The Kings also had 12 offensive rebounds to four for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 29 points but went 9 for 24 from the field. After reaching the 2024 Western Conference finals and starting 6-3 this season, the Wolves have lost four in a row and seven of nine. Takeaways Kings: Monk appears to have fully recovered from the right ankle sprain that kept him out of seven games. The 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year finalist made back-to-back 3-pointers with less than four minutes remaining as Sacramento erased a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Timberwolves: Even with Mike Conley back in the lineup after missing three games with a toe sprain, Minnesota continues to struggle with chemistry. The Karl-Anthony Towns trade haul of Julius Randle (21 points, nine rebounds) and Donte DiVincenzo (five points) has yielded mixed results as they attempt to gel with Edwards, Rudy Gobert and the rest of the Timberwolves' core. Key moment Jae Crowder, a 12-year NBA veteran who signed with the Kings earlier Wednesday, started in his first game since the 2024 playoffs with Milwaukee. His 3 at the first-quarter buzzer cut an early Wolves lead to 33-31; Crowder pointed at the home team's bench before joining his new teammates for the break. Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) elevates to shoot against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) while Kings center Alex Len, right, looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Minneapolis. Credit: AP/Ellen Schmidt Key stat Edwards made his first four 3s and had 14 points in the first nine minutes. He entered Wednesday leading the NBA with 4.8 made 3s per game. Up next Both teams have NBA Cup group play games Friday night: Sacramento at Portland, and Minnesota at home against the Los Angeles Clippers.
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