CALGARY—As Alberta’s NDP government moves to ban therapies intended to make people reject LGBTQ identities, the United Conservative Party says it doesn’t tolerate “coercive practices,” but has yet to address conversion therapy in concrete terms.

Critics say that recent comments from UCP MLA Jason Nixon in the Mountain View Gazette, where he said the party is waiting for results from a government working group before acting on conversion therapy, don’t go far enough to condemn the practice.

Conversion therapy, or reparative therapy, is a controversial pseudo-scientific practice adopted by some religions that aims to change a person’s sexual orientation from gay or bisexual to heterosexual. People who experienced these types of programs in Alberta have told Star Calgary and Star Edmonton that the practice is psychologically damaging, but it’s often hidden behind vague terminology or presented as a faith-based support group.

A UCP caucus communications staffer said Friday it’s not accurate that the party doesn’t have a position on the issue.

But in response to a question about the party’s stance on conversion therapy, Harrison Fleming didn’t specifically address the practice by name.

“Of course the UCP is strongly against coercive practices, especially regarding vulnerable individuals such as children,” he said in a statement. “All children deserve to grow up in a safe, caring and loving environment.”

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Last month, with the provincial election looming, the NDP government announced a working group made up of advocates, people who have experienced conversion therapy, and legal and health experts to issue recommendations on how the province can effectively ban the practice. At the time, Health Minister Sarah Hoffman issued a statement calling conversion therapy a “damaging, hateful practice.”

The working group’s co-chair Glynnis Lieb, who is the executive director of the University of Alberta’s Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services, said Friday that the group has had their first meeting, and they’re trying to move “fast and furious” to finish their report. But the group is set to meet for five months, which would see it wrap up after the election finishes, and potentially after a change in government.

She added that their work doesn’t focus solely on children. They’re in the process of getting legal advice and assessing the scope of what they can do, but they want recommendations or possible legislation to be as comprehensive as possible.

The UCP’s Fleming said the party would review any recommendations or legislation that come from the working group, but they’re waiting to see what power the province actually has to change anything.

“The very fact that NDP has had to establish a working group on this issue suggests that this is not as simple as a minor regulatory or legislative change,” he said.

Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Ontario have all passed legislation banning conversion therapy.

He also highlighted several instances where provincial government officials have stated that there is no billable service under Alberta Health for conversion therapy, and regulatory colleges for health professionals don’t accept the practice.

The Canadian Psychological Association and the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) already oppose the practice.

Pam Rocker, an activist who consults with churches and community groups who want to affirm LGBTQ people, said conversion therapy’s presence is often much more insidious.

Rocker identifies as a queer person of faith, and says conversion therapy remains prevalent in Alberta.

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“Most of the conversion therapy that’s performed is not by anybody who’s registered,” she said. “They get around all the financial things because they can ask for a donation — maybe it’s a program run under the church so maybe it’s a donation to the church.”

Rocker added that her concerns about the damage the programs do also go well beyond how it affects children.

“The adults who have been, I would say, brainwashed and shamed into doing it, is just as significant of a piece,” she said. “I’ve talked to people who are 18 and they’ve gone through it, and I’ve talked to people who are 60 and they’ve gone through it,” she said.

Alberta’s election could technically be called any day now, and Rocker said that policy-makers need to recognize how common, if somewhat hidden, conversion therapy still is — and its potential for long-lasting harm.

“It’s one thing to picture someone going through a one-week program of trying not to be attracted to the gender they actually are attracted to. It’s another thing to know how deeply that shame is ingrained in people. That affects them for the rest of their life.”

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