EDMONTON -- The province has to get with the times and declare that gay rights are protected in this province by spelling that out in Alberta's human rights act, NDP Rachel Notley demanded in the legislature.

NO PROTECTION

"Why won't you ensure that sexual minorities are protected under our human rights code by amending the legislation this session?" Notley asked Lindsay Blackett, the minister of culture and community spirit, Alberta's first black cabinet minister.

Notley noted it's been 10 years since a Supreme Court ruling in the Delwin Vriend case when judges decided provincial governments such as Alberta could not exclude gays and lesbians from human rights legislation.

Blackett said there's an ongoing review of Alberta's Human Rights Commission that started in April and a new commissioner has been appointed "as the first step at reforming the administrative process."

Notley charged it's obvious the government is dragging its feet on the matter on purpose.

"Why does the government continue to give a wink-wink, nudge-nudge to homophobes and gay-bashers by refusing to include sexual orientation in our human rights code?" Notley asked.

Blackett said he wouldn't be pushed into it by one lone MLA.

'NO KNEE-JERK RESPONSES'

"We do not make changes to legislation ... or make amendments to any particular body just because of the whim of one particular individual in this House," said Blackett.

"We will take the time to get it right. We do not believe in knee-jerk responses ..."