Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream independent MLA Tara Armstrong’s attempts to repeal human rights institutions are being bashed by her neighbouring politician, and others.
Armstrong introduced the Human Rights Code Repeal Act in the Legislative Assembly Thursday, Feb. 26. The bill aims to abolish the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, repeal the B.C. Human Rights Code, eliminate the Human Rights Commissioner and nullify previous Tribunal ruling.
“It is absolutely despicable and unacceptable to see an elected official use taxpayers’ time and dollars in the Legislature to bring forward such hateful proposals,” Vernon-Lumby MLA Harwinder Sandhu said in a social media post.
“Even more concerning is the fact that the BC Conservatives once again voted in favour of our neighbouring MLA’s bill. This isn’t the first time, and I’m afraid it won’t be the last time.”
A total of 37 MLAs voted yes to the first reading of the bill, but it was defeated by the other 50 who voted against it.
“Human rights should never be part of political debate,” said Sandhu. “They exist to protect the most vulnerable among us and to suppress hate. We cannot allow human rights to be weakened or politicized.”
Armstrong framed the move as defending freedom of expression, citing a decision involving a former school trustee by the tribunal, which she also called a “kangaroo court.”
“The Human Rights Tribunal exists to silence conservative speech by labeling any opposition to the Left as ‘hateful,’” Armstrong said in an X post. “They fined Barry Neufeld $750,000 for believing men can’t become women.”
The Human Rights Tribunal exists to silence conservative speech by labeling any opposition to the Left as "hateful." They fined Barry Neufeld $750,000 for believing men can't become women.
Today I introduced legislation to abolish the Human Rights Tribunal. pic.twitter.com/966jYiv0sB
— Tara Armstrong (@TaraArmstrongBC) February 26, 2026
Sandhu defends the tribunal, and its work to ensure basic human dignity is upheld.
“Let me be very clear ‘hate speech’ is not ‘free speech,’” said Sandhu.
– with files from Wilbur Turner, The Turner Files