TL/DR –
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has defended Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s approach to transgender issues, claiming the Liberal government and media have misrepresented policies that aim to give parents more say over their children. Smith’s policies include requiring parental consent for children under 15 to use preferred names and pronouns in school, banning “top” and “bottom” surgeries for minors under 17, limiting puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children under 15, and preventing trans women and girls from participating in women’s sports. These policies have been criticized by LGBTQ groups, trans advocates, and Alberta’s medical association as infringing on trans people’s constitutional rights, and Canada’s health minister has been urged to withhold health funding from Alberta if the policies are enacted.
Conservative Leader Poilievre Stands With Alberta Premier Smith on Transgender Policies
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has defended Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s approach to transgender issues, accusing the Liberal government and the media of portraying her policies negatively. These policies are aimed at giving parents a bigger role in their children’s decisions.
During a press conference in Montreal, Poilievre claimed the Liberal government is spreading disinformation about Smith’s proposed policies. Poilievre stated the Liberal government, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is misrepresenting conservatives and avoiding getting into the specifics of Smith’s policies.
The Conservative leader called for Trudeau and his ministers to refrain from interference, suggesting they should allow parents to raise their children and provinces to manage their schools and hospitals.
Despite questions about whether these policies might limit the rights of parents who support their child’s gender transition, Poilievre firmly denied the claim.
Liberal Government Opposes Smith’s Policies
Trudeau has previously criticised Smith’s “anti-LGBT policies”, arguing that they could worsen mental health and suicidal tendencies among young people grappling with gender dysphoria. Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault has further spelled out the Liberal government’s opposition, particularly to the proposal that transgender children aged 15 and under must obtain parental consent to use their preferred names and pronouns in schools. Boissonnault believes it forces children to disclose their gender identity prematurely.
Smith’s Other Policies
According to Poilievre, both the federal government and the media have ignored Smith’s other policies, which concern sensitive medical decisions that have sparked debates in Canada and abroad. Smith has proposed banning specific surgeries for minors under 18 and restricting access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children under 15. She has also suggested that trans women and girls should not participate in women’s sports for safety and fairness reasons.
Criticism of Smith’s Policies
Smith’s policies have faced significant backlash from various LGBTQ groups, transgender advocates, and Alberta’s medical association, who see them as an infringement of trans people’s constitutional rights. Alberta NDP MP Blake Desjarlais has accused Smith of denying transgender children their basic human rights and limiting their access to life-saving healthcare.
Consequences of Limiting Access to Hormonal Treatment
Healthcare providers warn that restricting access to puberty blockers and hormones could have severe consequences for young people dealing with dysphoria. Calgary family physician Dr. Ted Jablonski called it a direct attack on the medical care of trans youth. The Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) states that these treatments can be an essential component of comprehensive care for some transgender adolescents. Suicidal ideation might be reduced with access to puberty blockers, according to the CPS.
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