Alberta United Conservative Party MLA Leela Aheer’s former leadership campaign manager Sarah Biggs said it's disgusting Alberta Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides is standing up for fired Mount Royal University professor Frances Widdowson. .“Blatant Racism, Residential Schools Denialism are not reasons to fight for right of ‘free speech,’” said Biggs in a Tuesday tweet. .“They must be called out.”.Nicolaides vowed Tuesday to strengthen free speech at universities following the University of Lethbridge’s decision to cancel a lecture from Widdowson. .READ MORE: Nicolaides condemns Lethbridge university for stopping Widdowson talk.“I understand past comments made by this speaker are controversial, but I believe it is important for our universities and colleges to foster a strong culture of free speech and diverse viewpoints, even when those viewpoints are deemed controversial, or even offensive, barring speech intended to incite hatred or violence of course,” said Nicolaides. .“I will be announcing new steps to strengthen free speech on Alberta’s post-secondary campuses in the near future.”.Widdowson said Monday she would be giving her lecture at U of L on Wednesday, regardless of the circumstances. .READ MORE: UPDATED: Fired MRU professor vows to give talk at Lethbridge university despite cancellation."You will have to haul me away by security to stop me,” she said. .U of L said it would be stopping Widdowson from giving a lecture. .Biggs said the Alberta government is doubling down “to appeal to the base.” She asked why it's “doubling on everything that is just plain out wrong.”.“Enough,” she said.
Alberta United Conservative Party MLA Leela Aheer’s former leadership campaign manager Sarah Biggs said it's disgusting Alberta Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides is standing up for fired Mount Royal University professor Frances Widdowson. .“Blatant Racism, Residential Schools Denialism are not reasons to fight for right of ‘free speech,’” said Biggs in a Tuesday tweet. .“They must be called out.”.Nicolaides vowed Tuesday to strengthen free speech at universities following the University of Lethbridge’s decision to cancel a lecture from Widdowson. .READ MORE: Nicolaides condemns Lethbridge university for stopping Widdowson talk.“I understand past comments made by this speaker are controversial, but I believe it is important for our universities and colleges to foster a strong culture of free speech and diverse viewpoints, even when those viewpoints are deemed controversial, or even offensive, barring speech intended to incite hatred or violence of course,” said Nicolaides. .“I will be announcing new steps to strengthen free speech on Alberta’s post-secondary campuses in the near future.”.Widdowson said Monday she would be giving her lecture at U of L on Wednesday, regardless of the circumstances. .READ MORE: UPDATED: Fired MRU professor vows to give talk at Lethbridge university despite cancellation."You will have to haul me away by security to stop me,” she said. .U of L said it would be stopping Widdowson from giving a lecture. .Biggs said the Alberta government is doubling down “to appeal to the base.” She asked why it's “doubling on everything that is just plain out wrong.”.“Enough,” she said.
