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Canada’s national governing body for skating, Skate Canada, does not allow any of its national and international events to take place in Alberta amid a provincial law banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.
“Skate Canada considers various processes when choosing venues to host its national events. After a careful review of Alberta’s Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, Skate Canada has determined that we cannot host events in the province while maintaining our national standards for safe and inclusive sport,” the organization told Fox News Digital.
“This decision only applies to national and international level events and does not affect the ability of Alberta skaters to participate in Skate Canada programs and competitions. We will continue to monitor legislative developments in the province and will re-evaluate hosting opportunities as circumstances change.”
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Protesters gathered in Churchill Square in support of transgender youth in Alberta following the “Sing With Love” concert at McDougall United Church. The meeting was held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Feb. 11, 2024. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Alberta was not scheduled to host any upcoming national or international events. The province last hosted the Skate Canada Challenge last month and the national championships in January 2024.
Alberta’s Fairness and Safety in Sport Act “requires in-scope organizations to develop and implement athlete eligibility policies consistent with the requirements set forth in the regulation, including limiting eligibility for women’s divisions only to natural female athletes.”
Skate Canada’s decision to punish the province drew immediate criticism from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who slammed the organization in a statement on X.
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“Women and girls have the right to play competitive sports in a safe and fair environment against other natural women. This view is held by the majority of Albertans and Canadians. It is also common sense and common practice. Skate Canada’s refusal to hold events in Alberta because we choose to protect women and girls in sport is a disgrace,” Smith wrote.
“We expect that they will apologize and correct their policies when they realize that they are not only jeopardizing the integrity and safety of their athletes, but they are also on the side of the international community, including the International Olympic Committee, moving towards Alberta.”
The issue of trans athletes in women’s sports has been a controversial issue in Canada, as it has been in the US, over the past year.
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The topic was at the heart of a rivalry between two Canadian women’s college basketball teams last season; Vancouver Island University, which enrolled a trans player on its women’s team, and Columbia Bible College, which was sanctioned after allegations of harassment against the player.
Meanwhile, the president of the group that organizes Pride fest in Canada resigned in November amid a massive backlash of critics questioning its fairness. transgender athletes in women’s sports during a radio interview.
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