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Edmonton city council has officially banned the practice of conversion therapy.

The unanimous decision came down Tuesday following months of work to draft the bylaw necessary to prohibit the practice and promotion of conversion therapy within city limits. The bylaw carries a $10,000 fine for any businesses that do not follow the new rules.

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There are some exemptions, including any businesses that offer services around acceptance, support or understanding of a person or a business that helps in facilitating that. Gender-affirming surgery and any service related to that are also exempt.

MacEwan University associate professor Kristopher Wells, who advised on the bylaw, praised council for developing the most comprehensive bylaw in Canada prohibiting conversion therapy. He noted city council also did this on International Human Rights Day.

“This bylaw will be a model not just for municipalities in Canada, but across the world,” he said. “What makes this bylaw so powerful is that it captures all forms of conversion therapy, whether they are medical, spiritual, or religious. Council has sent a strong and powerful message that conversion therapy has no place in our community and will be punished by the full extent of the law.”