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Skate Canada Cancels Alberta Events Over Gender-Equality Law

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, December 16th 2025 at 15:43 GMT by The Globe and Mail

Skate Canada Pulls Out of Alberta Competitions Over Controversial Gender‑Equality Legislation

In a move that has sent shockwaves through Canada’s sporting community, Skate Canada announced on Tuesday that it will cancel all of its scheduled events in the province of Alberta. The governing body for figure skating, ice dancing and speed skating in Canada, cited the recently passed “Sports Gender Equality Act” (SGEA) as the primary reason for its decision. The legislation, which came into force in March 2024, imposes stringent, biologically‑based gender restrictions on all organized sports in the province and has been described by opponents as a “barrage of discrimination against transgender and non‑binary athletes.”

What the Law Actually Says

At the heart of the SGEA is a requirement that all sports teams and competitions be organized strictly by sex, with no allowance for participants to compete in a category that does not match their “biological sex.” The law defines biological sex as the “sex that an athlete was assigned at birth,” and it prohibits clubs, leagues and governing bodies from considering gender identity or expression in any eligibility decisions. The Act also mandates that any organization that fails to comply may face penalties, including the loss of government subsidies and potential legal action.

While proponents claim that the legislation protects the integrity of women’s sport, critics argue that it effectively excludes transgender women and non‑binary athletes, and that it violates the Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression. The Supreme Court of Canada has repeatedly ruled that laws that discriminate against transgender individuals are unconstitutional unless the government can prove that such measures are strictly necessary to achieve a legitimate objective – a standard that many civil‑rights groups believe the SGEA fails to meet.

How Skate Canada Responded

The cancellation of Alberta events is part of a broader strategy that Skate Canada says is “necessary to protect the rights of all athletes, particularly those who identify as transgender.” The organization’s president, Lisa Ruddick, stated in a statement released to The Globe and Mail that the SGEA “conflicts with Skate Canada’s long‑standing policy of inclusivity and the principle of equal opportunity for all competitors, regardless of gender identity.”

Skate Canada’s bylaws explicitly state that the federation “shall not discriminate on the basis of gender identity or expression” and that it “promotes fairness and equality for all athletes.” Ruddick further explained that the organization would be exploring legal avenues to challenge the act, citing potential violations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. “We cannot, in good conscience, host an event that could be used to marginalize any segment of our athlete base,” she added.

The federation’s decision also aligns with the stance of other national sports bodies. Hockey Canada has already expressed concerns about the SGEA, while Basketball Canada has issued a statement urging the provincial government to reconsider the legislation’s sweeping scope.

The Impact on Athletes and the Alberta Community

The cancellation will affect a range of athletes, from elite skaters on the World Cup circuit to young junior competitors who had planned to use the Alberta venues as a stepping stone to international events. The 2024 Canadian Junior Figure Skating Championships had been slated to take place in Calgary in late March, but are now on hold. “It’s devastating,” said junior skater Emily Zhang, who was scheduled to compete. “The Alberta rink is our training ground and a place where we dream of reaching the next level.”

Beyond the athletes, local businesses and tourism boards stand to lose revenue from the influx of teams, coaches, and fans. The Alberta Winter Sports Association, which had partnered with Skate Canada to promote the province as a premier destination for winter sports, issued a statement expressing disappointment but acknowledging the need to respect the federation’s decision.

Legal and Policy Implications

Skate Canada’s move raises a host of legal questions. First, does the SGEA violate federal human‑rights legislation? If so, can the federation or individual athletes file a lawsuit to compel the province to amend or repeal the act? Secondly, how does the law align with Canada’s national sport policy, which emphasizes inclusion and anti‑discrimination? The federation is already in talks with the federal Minister of Sport to seek clarification on how the SGEA intersects with national policies.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission has opened an investigation into the SGEA, and several advocacy groups, including the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, are already lobbying the federal government for intervention. Meanwhile, the Alberta government has issued a statement asserting that the legislation “protects women’s sports from unfair advantages” and that it will remain “in force until a court overturns its provisions.”

The Wider Debate

The SGEA is part of a growing national conversation about gender, inclusion, and sports. Critics point to similar legislation that has been debated in other provinces, noting that a patchwork of rules could create a confusing environment for athletes traveling across provincial borders. The debate also touches on the philosophical question of whether biological sex should be the sole criterion for competition. Proponents, however, maintain that the law preserves a level playing field for women’s sport, citing studies on physiological differences that could give transgender women a competitive edge.

Internationally, governing bodies such as the International Skating Union (ISU) have issued guidelines that allow transgender athletes to compete in the sex category that aligns with their gender identity, provided certain medical criteria are met. These guidelines are now at odds with Alberta’s legislation, which could create a diplomatic rift between national and provincial authorities.

Looking Ahead

Skate Canada has signaled that it will continue to hold all remaining competitions in other provinces, and it has opened the door to rescheduling the Alberta events at a later date if the SGEA is amended or repealed. In the meantime, the federation is coordinating with affected athletes to identify alternative training and competition opportunities.

The controversy also underscores the importance of clear, consistent policies that protect the rights of all athletes while maintaining fairness in competition. Whether the Alberta government will revise the Sports Gender Equality Act or face a legal showdown remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the decision by Skate Canada to cancel its Alberta events has cast a spotlight on the intersection of sport, law, and human rights—an intersection that will likely dominate Canadian sports discourse for the foreseeable future.