NDP alleges Calgary-Mountain View UCP candidate linked to conversion therapy program
Yolande Cole
Jeremy Wong is the United Conservative Party candidate for Calgary-Mountain View.
The Alberta NDP is criticizing the UCP's new candidate in Calgary-Mountain View for past comments praising an alleged conversion therapy program — an accusation the candidate denies.
In a news release issued Saturday, the NDP said Jeremy Wong "praised and promoted a conversion therapy program called Living Waters." Conversion therapy is a controversial practice that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation to heterosexual.
Sarah Hoffman, who is running for re-election with the NDP in Edmonton-Glenora, said there are "a number of very clear ties between work he's done and work that they've done indeed that is conversion therapy and is harmful."
"These views are harmful and hurtful, and could have really lasting negative impacts on Albertans," Hoffman said in an interview.
But Wong says he is not affiliated with the group formerly called Living Waters Canada, now known as Journey Canada, and that he does not support conversion therapy in any form. The UCP also pointed to a statement from Journey Canada, which says the organization does not seek to change the sexual orientation of the people who participate in its programs.
"I am not formally affiliated with the group in question, although I have attended some events in the past," Wong said in a prepared statement. "In particular, I attended some spiritual support groups for adults that provide a safe and accepting place for people to share together."
The NDP also drew criticism from Alberta Liberal Leader and Calgary-Mountain View candidate David Khan, who said the government has not acted to ban conversion therapy, whereas his party has been calling for an immediate ban.
A Living Waters Canada annual report from 2013 lists programs including a course for young adults "on healing in relationships and sexuality," support groups offering "spiritual support to individuals and family members dealing with sexual addiction, spousal infidelity and same-sex attraction," and one-day seminars "for ministering to those facing sexual addiction, unwanted same-sex attraction, and relationship struggles."
In the same report, Wong is quoted describing Living Waters as a program "that provides just what we need, a place of safety and love, a place to heal, a place where we can welcome Jesus into the wounds of the heart."
"I myself participated in the Living Waters program and have benefited deeply in my soul," the quote reads. "Since then, I have encouraged many church members to attend and I also continue to draw upon the teaching and experience I received in Living Waters into my own ministry context."
Wong said he does not support and would not participate in any conversion therapy activity.
"I believe that all must be respected and treated with dignity, and that coercion has no place in our society," Wong said in the statement provided by the UCP.
A June 2018 statement on conversion therapy on Journey Canada's website states that: "As a discipleship ministry, we do not seek to change the sexual orientation of the people who participate in our programs."
"Journey Canada understands the painful legacy of conversion or reparative therapy for sexual minorities. This means that while we are firmly committed to a traditional Christian understanding of sexuality, we reject any program that promises change in sexual orientation or makes orientation change a goal."
Journey Canada's website states the group "follows an orthodox Christian understanding of sexuality, including God's plan for sexual relations between a man and a woman within marriage."
Hoffman said Alberta created a working group to develop recommendations on how government can end conversion therapy in the province.
"Right now, I believe that no health professional is able to do any type of conversion therapy in accordance with their college and their professional practices, but there certainly are some questions about how we can make sure that the harmful practice is ended in Alberta, because we know that people in positions of trust have encouraged people to participate in these types of programs," Hoffman said.
Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan during an Alberta Liberal campaign kick-off for the Calgary-Varsity constituency on March 23. (Brendan Miller/Postmedia)
Khan said he's disturbed by the NDP's allegations against Wong.
"If this is true, it's really disturbing, because conversion therapy is a highly damaging, abhorrent practice that any LGBTQ individual should not have imposed on them, and especially no vulnerable LGBTQ youth should be submitted to this kind of fake theory that your sexuality can be changed from gay to straight," he said in an interview.
But Khan also criticized the NDP and said his party has been calling for a ban on conversion therapy since 2016. He said instead of banning conversion therapy, the NDP government "decided to kick it down the road five months for so-called study until after the election."
Hoffman said in February that Albertans "deserve to trust" that any measures to end conversion therapy are "as strong as possible" and will withstand legal challenges.
In September, UCP Leader Jason Kenney said he would consider supporting a bill banning conversion therapy if it was brought forward.
Wong has been a pastor at the Calgary Chinese Alliance Church since 2011, according to information previously available on the church's website, and holds a number of bachelor's degrees and a master of public administration from the University of Calgary.
He was appointed as the UCP candidate in Calgary-Mountain View late Wednesday, replacing Caylan Ford, who was linked to controversial comments relating to the treatment of white nationalists after the neo-Nazi attack in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017.
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