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Use of the term “unjust” was one of the most contentious points in the two-hour meeting, in which trustees went line-by-line through the proposed document and occasionally struggled to re-word chunks of it.

Trustee Cindy Olsen said the board’s legal counsel had advised including “unjust” in the policy. She gave the example of a blind person not being permitted to drive as a scenario that could be construed as a form of discrimination.

The amendment to the policy that included the word “unjust” passed 5-2.

Board chair Marilyn Bergstra said the board wants to see guidelines promised by Education Minister David Eggen before a third reading in the coming months.

“I did not see anything at this point and time that I think goes against what the minister will expect to see,” Bergstra said.

Last month, Eggen told all of the province’s 61 school boards that he wants them to write regulations to support gay-straight alliances and protect LGBTQ rights. Their deadline is March. Many have called for Eggen to enact a provincewide policy for transgender students, but he has so far declined.

The Edmonton Catholic board has, in particular, struggled with creating a policy after a transgender student in the district began to identify as a girl earlier this year. She was initially asked to use a gender neutral bathroom, which has sparked a heated, months-long debate about a policy by the board.

After a special meeting with Eggen, the board at its last meeting ordered a community consultation process for their policy. The consultation lasted for two weeks, but was only open to those who were invited, although people who showed up were permitted to stay.